Flight International Magazine 1912-04-13

Flight, April 13, 1912.

A Jomrtai ««TaiM to fkm lalafMU. PrtiMt*, amI KtrMt of A«ri»l LoeomotioK a>d Tr,

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ROYAL A£KO CLUB Of Tfll 0N1T» ilNGBOM.

MOTOR BOAT RACING AT MONACO AS SEEN FROM RENAUX'S FARBiAN BIPLANE.— A mim oI
"Sttat* m* the MCtag asit wUcfa made sacfa l i rodtd ttac In the tTnilni Raot»

B a

Editoriai.

Pools sad seldom that we feel called upon

Angels. to go out of the way to traverse the often

ill-informed statements of our lay con-
tciiiiini.u ICS, even though we may tiumeliniesi be inclined
to M ply to matters that seem directly or indirectly to
affect ourselves. It is a good maxim of life that every
tndmdual has the right to his own opinions and, in this
free country of ours, an equal right to its expression
within the bounds of the ordinary decencies. And it is
well that it should be so, for there is nothing like proper
criticism for keeping to the straight and narrow path those
who hold in their charge any sort of public responsibility.
We say advisedly, proper criticism, for it comes to us tliat
some of the tirades that pass as criucism, which have
recently been levelled against all and sundry who happen
to be concerned with the diiectiQn of national aeronaut
policy, do pass the bounidb t>f thoise dtscetides to wMcb

we have referred. The cudgelling of the Gf>vernment
and its advisers is a cheap and a safe game, especially in
the case of the latter, for their hands are shackled by
«eg«lations and they have no ligh^ not even a permissive
of reply. Nm that iws Wonld hold *Sther Ae

"Government of tlie day, whatever its ixjlitieal colour, or
its advi.sers sacro.sunct and immune fidm e.riticisni within
legitimate bounds. Indeed, there have l>cen no more
severe critics than oiuselves when the Government was
apparently bittf in ^6 nuitrer of aeirki defi^C^ hrttt mw

that it is nhvinudy making; a moift in the ri^lit direction
and working to make up lost grotud, we can see neither
sense nor reason in an indiscriminate application of ^e
lash.

Particularly is this so when, as wfe have noti<^ is often

tiie case, tile accusations grow from a bed of inaccuracy.
Some of the " critics " who are now supporting the
columns of our contemporary general press do not appear
to have taken the trouble to make themselves quite au fait
either with the Government's policy or with the machinery
incidental to its ojyeration. Tlieie has Invn much talk (jf
useless Committees and worse than useless individual-s,
whose names seem to have been dragged into the lime-
light at random and subjected to any sort of abuse that
first comes handy. Some articles that we have seen
confuse the whole persoimel in a ho]jeless jumble and in
case any of our own readers may have doubts as to what
is what in this matter, it may perhaps be excttSed US if we
briefly survey the situation as it exists at present. In
doing this we have no wish whatever to take up the
cudgels against our contemporaries, but merely to put
readers of FucuT in possession of such facts as may
enable them to jtiiiSge M the value of partictdar comment
for themselves.

Much confusion, for example, has arisen concerning
tile itlentity of the Advisory Committee and the com-
mittee to which Col. Seely referred indirectly as his
terhnical advisers. In some articles they are regarded
as identiea] bodies. As a fact, they are entirely separate
institutions, and it is not surprising that there should have
been some little mix up on the part of those aii\!ou> to
seize their victims indiscriminately, since one of the two
committees is a secret body of which it is safe to say that
no one outside the members tbo-ei^ know the ftiD
personnel.

Its existence as a committee is evident from the fact
that it has called witnesses, and, for the same reason,
individual members of it have become known ; further, it
18 deaiiy a sabKXMnmittee of the Committee of Imperial

Comment.

Defence, as may be argued both from the place of its
meeting and the nature of the indirect references made
to its work. Now the Committee of Imperial Defence
consists of the Prime Minister himself, who attaches to
him those whom he needs for any particular work.
Each committee thus formed is extremely secret in its
character.

In so far as Col. Seely has referred to advisers, the
particubr sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial
Defence that deals with aeronautics may he held respon-
sible for the Government attitude towards the movement.
What that attitude is, the Government has made, in our
opinion, but a poor attempt to explain, particuhirlv with
regard to the purchase of British and foreign machines.
It would, of cDiirse, l)e of thi utmost service byway of
cl)^mng the unpleasantly dense atmuspheru that is now
ansinf i^tnn the ihes of indignation that have been
burning so fiercely at the Government's delay in making
a start, if the Ciovernmenl were to issue a really carefully
prepared stateuieiil (jf its intentions with regard to the
British industry in a form sufficiently definite and concise
to enable mamtfitcttirers to have a fair idea of what sort
of orders they may expect in the near future. But, any
such precise statement of programme concerning a
national armament is precisely what this Government
dislikes to disclose consequendy the people most con-
ceAltM) have to exist On a hope that is none too well
fortified.

There is no doubt, however, from what has been said
at one time or another by responsible people, that the
Qoyemment intends to (iie aeroplane as an

arthltriehf Md ^ fdll&jf %t natiSnal policy of con-
structing it. in common with othri- arniamenls, in home
factories. Likewise it has been rendered definitely dear
that the Government has no intention of utilising the
Royal Aircraft Factory as a competitive factory against
commercial concerns in the construction of aeroplanes in
quantity for supplying the new arm.

The other side of the matter, which has given rise to
the fiercest comment is th6 very dear but somewhat
unfortunately expressed determination of the Govenmient
to allow no question of nationality to stand in the way of
the equipment of the new arm willi the best possible {i/'ifv
of machine. There are some types of machine that liave
admittedly been developed i& a ^fjt&iicet d^ree oh the
Continent than in England, consequently it is obviously
the Government's intention to purchase a sufficient
number of these machines from abroad (but through the
proper English representatives of the firms in question, we
most deddedly h<^«% m order that the necessary
experience may be available with the minimum of delay
to enable the authorities to decide which of the said types
they will require to be constructed in England thereafter.
If any should ask why does the Government not
commission British firms to build copies of these foreign
machines in the first instance, the reply is merely that it
is only common sense to gain the necessary initial
I xperience with the originals. To do so is only Cur to
the army pilot and to the British manufacturer. By using
the original you make sure, in the first instance, of the
machine, and the pilot is relieved of doubt. When, after-
wards, the British manufacturer supplies the necessary
duplicates, he, in turn, has the satisfaction of knowing
that his reputation is not jeopardised by an ine3q)erienced
man. Nothing could possibly be VMse for the Britiidi
firms that are so anidous and|»CfWEl7 espectaot totecdnre

- Ana 13, t9i*<

C5ovemnient encouragement, for machines of their

construction but of foreign type, to risk the chance ol
lieing condemned solely because of the pilot's prejudice or
hesitation with regard to /earning to fly an improved copy
without the moral support that he woubl luturally feel in
the reputation of an original machine.

So much for the question ot aeroplanes in the l)ulk ;
there remains the Government's research work. This
scientific work is under the direction <3i the Aih isory
Committee. Of its eleven members seven are Fellows
of the Royal Societ}', which is the best possible guarantee
of their mental faculties heint; thoroughly trained in
science. And, it is a sound scientific council of this
kind that is most to be dcsit^d m the legulation of aero-
nautical research, for there is no subject on which it is
easier for the thinking apparatus of man to lose its way.
Aeronautics is not the preroj^ative of "the inventor of a
flying machine who has studied the subject for the last
twenty years," and althougli ihi re are many such who
very iref^diiy claim to know all there is to know, wc
venture to think that the science as a science is likely to
yield more real data in tlie l^nig run to the penetrating
minds of ih'ise who are trained .iiui iiave had long
experience in ><< ii iitific researcli in general.

The Advisory Committee has two outlets for the
practical expression of its mental activities. One is the
National Physical Laboratorj', where the small scale
experiments in aeronautics are conducted, the other is
the Ro\al Aircraft I'actor\ where the lesearch i.s carried
out on full-sized machines. What goes on at Teddington

[/Oght]

and what goes on at Famlmrough is very thoroughly
known til the .\dvisory (."onnnittee and to s;iy, as has
been said, that the .\ircraft Factory has cost an immense
sum of money and has proAutd only two aeroplanes is
merely to argue that the purpose of the factory is quantity
production, whit-h, as has already been stated, it is not. As
a matter of fact tin- factory lias disigm-d and liuilt a few
things, including portable sheds and mooring masts for
dinghies, which have been rather creditable engineering
achievements but for which it is too much to hope that
it will receive credit. Similarly, the National I'liysic^l
I^ilioratory lias laid down rese.ircii jilaiii with wiueh it is
hoped to produce results of superior accuracy to those of
any foregoing investigators either there or any other place
in the world. Such preUminary work is slow, however,
and to hurry it unduly is to court disaster from the first.

Siicli is, as briefly as possible, the outline of tlv
(iovi rnineiit's policy and mechanism fur efl'ecting it, so
far as we have l>een able to understand either. It is
abundantly clear, however, that a majority still doubts the
good faidi of the one and the efficacy of the other, where-
fore we fee) disposed very strongly to urge tlu' jxiwrrs
that lie to stretch a point towards giving a more complete
and lucid statement of the future i)rt)grainnie, both as
regards machines and engines than hitherto they have
deemed politic, in order that a little public-spirited en-
thusiasm may take the placi of the present wet blanket.
A wholesome fillip is badly needed just now.

Wt> GoMnr ffiuad at the wheel of bis 70-h.p. Bl^riot with which be made bis splendid ahimdc O^t at HcadoB.

Inact Mr. Hamd Is sees dorlag eae o( bis fine bsnhtngi.

321

HENDON AVIATION MEETINGS,

^Tttt brngmatlOB.

Although the el'my w^* were at their worst possiUe bebayionr
dniiiig tiw EuMr nekboa, and although, naturally, the amoont of
t^'V *t ^ London Aerodrome meeting fuffered comidmhlff
it WOTld be nnfiur to tena the event other than a succcm. For wlwt
ijiag took place dnrii^ these four days was of the highest possible
order. It was a glarii^ example of the sheer cassedness of things that
Simda^, which was set apart solely for exhiUtion flights, should be
so eminently suitable for flyiin> wUk the weather on the other
tiuve days, on which shoud Iwve taken place the competitioos
which formed the essence of tin meeting, was so antagonistic.
Seemingly, for the first time on record, the spectators appeared to
have some understanding of the diihculiies besetting flight under
vAvoorable conditions, for althoosh blank intervals were fairly
fiaouent, they did not express then tmpa^enoe, and left the ground
unooubiedly satisfied
that everything possible
had been done to pro
viiii till-Ill wiili ihvir
money's woriii of
amusement. That the
meeting was successful
from the promoters'
point of view
without saying, for a
throng of 15,000 paid
for admission on the
Friday, 13,000 on the
Saturday, 8,000 on
Sunday, and again
8|pOO on Kastcr Mon-
day. The number of
people in the neigh-
oonrfaood of the aero-
drome on this last day
of the meet rather re-
minded one of the
eonditions at the start
or the Dai/y Mail
dtcoit from Hendon
last summer, and it was
clear that had the wind
entered into the hob'day
spirit and exerted itself
to a considerably less
degree, there would
have been a record

Site. Considering that
e public were warned
by megaphone and by
Ug placards, that owing
to the unfavourable
conditions flying coiiUl
certainly not lie guaran-
teed, the attendance of
8,000 on the last day
of the meeting was, t<i
say the least of it, c om-
forting. And tlicy were
certainly not disap-
pointed, for they were
treated to a feat that
scarcely any oilier pilot
than Grahame-White
would attempt, that of
fl]nnga Farman biplane
with two passengers up
in a most unsteady
wind, fluctuating from
35 to 50 miles per hour.
C»e Mnnot but admire Grahame-White all the more for his deter-
"un^oon. when he asserted an Sunday that, wind or no wind, he
wotuofly the following day. He kept to his promise even though
^ extent of slightly spraining his ankle, and of
wcriikang an did Fannan biplane that, before it was rebuilt after
to leturn from his fint visit to the States, had served him in lus
coniSen exhibitions since the Wolverhampt<m meeting of 191a

**' *e unfevouraWe weather, aldun^gh ij^ IW*
pronded on each day the meet, only one competi^in mtt of ^
nine on the programme was contested, that of the altitude contest
on the first day by Mr. GusUv Hamel. Even in this single com-
pebtiOD there was only one entry, bat so splendid a %ht did Mr.

A fliM piece of stmMtS nnaA a marlc towf^ «t 97 otiies per boitr,
lift, ^nltidiiiie«Whlte oa iils f^mfegi «tah«pi«ie.

Hamcl put up that undoubtedly the judges will waive the conditions
relacins to the vatidiiy of the tests owing to the lark of starters and
awardMr. Hamel the prize for that event. It is understood that
the remainder of the corapeticioiis will be competed for at a
second meeting which it is hoped will take place wtdun the next
month at Hendon.

Good Friday, April 5th.
A wind registering anything between 20 and ;,o miles an hour on
the aerodrome anemometer, an instrument which !-eems to estimate
the wind at about 70 percent, of its true vclociiy, did not augur well
for much flying. However, at about half-past three, Urahame-
While brought out a !■ arn.an tyi>e biiilane that had just been
rampleted in his works, and flew along the front of the enclosures.
Tlie stiUe of ^e wind, and Uie diffionlty of keeping good control

over tlie machine with
the ailerons of the
Curtisp - type, with
which this biplane Is
fitted, did not make
things any too happy
for him. He did not
remain out with that
machine long, for he
returned to the hangar
and changed it for one
of his old I arniaiis with
ordinary ailerons, on
which he flew twice
round the ground, re-
ceiving an unusual
amount of buffeting
while he im m Uie air,
and quite a iot'Of Peer-
ing when he landed in
the space between the
half-crown and the
is. 6d, enclosures.
During the interval
that elapsed the crowd
were kept amused by a
succession of daylight
fireworks that the man-
agement had wisely
arranged for in view of
the possibility of the
weather faeinc agsiiist
flying. Wi^lbalfan
hour it wa.s announced
by megaphone from
the judges' stand that
llaiiiel would make an
fxliilntioii flight on the
lili'riol. Starting up
into the wind, hefjuiekly
rose to aliout 500 ft.
Afjainst the wind he
sc.iicely seemed to he
moving at all, and when
he turiifil down wind
he could not have lieen
doing much less than 95.
miles an hour. Hocking
considerably, he flew a
couple of circuits,,
mostly outside the .aero-
drome, then rushing
down wind to the
Golders Green end of
the ground, made a.
startling left-hand turn with terrific hanking and descended
in an almost vertical zm //,/«<'. For some few moments ap-
prehension was rife as to whether he still had control over the
machine, and great was the relief when he flattened the mono-
plane out and landed. His coming to earth was a signal for
renewed applause. Another interval followed of about an horn,
during which the wuid did not abate in ibs slightest. Shortly
ti&mti^Ii^wii lHinier flew the Farman round for one dnnut. He
Wti feiiid idbtet in a manner rather fearsome to watch, but, all credit
to him, he stuck to his job and brought the machine safely to land
none the worse for the horrible Ixttfeting he had received. Later oa
in the evoodi^ Heiael, on Sopwithfs ^To-lup. tw«NieKter Gnome-

322

Atkh. 13, 1912.

Bl^riot. sCaru-d otT for the altitude contest. On this machine, owing
ui its gieaier sjifwl, the wind did not stiem to have si> niui-h (fiTec;.
Higher and higher he rose uniil he bad attained the- 0,000 ft. level.
At thist altitude the wind must havi- been blowing a veritable gale,
for the machine, which in still air can do 65 niilc^ an horn, was
litcra'ly iK;in{; blown backwards and away from the aerrKliomc.
l ^ven in hi> rw. /•.aiie from that heijjht he did not seen; to make any
headway towards the aerodrome until he had descended some
considerable distance. This flight lasted 26 minutes.

l/DCHT]

Saturday. April Sth.

The iiisi III) Saiuuiay was Kwen, who, taxi in;; hi> n.aihine
liom il> shed al llie far >ide ol the giound to ihe cneUisurcs, deeided
to attenipt a eitoun. .Ml along the front ot the enclosuies diil he fly
at a hci^;ht of alnHU 20 li., but as the wimi was teally loo Ku! he
eanie down, a-- hi- nuiehine was imi iioweilul cnoiit^li 10 eninlul ihe
tjusts. I ii'ni tlit ii until half pa-l lour there was a lon^; inlei\al,
relieveii oTily I'V ilaylit;ht liiework-. Then llanielV mai hilie was
pushed to the fai side of the (;iound by his nieelianu >, so as to i;et a

IN THE AIR DURING THE EASTtR FLYING MEET AT HENDON. il) Mr. B, C Hucks oa bU 60-tuD.
BlerlM{ (2) Mr. Gakunt-Wbtte landing on his Famutn after a flight; {3) Mr W. H. Ewen OB h(p Depctdowliii and

(4) Mr. Lewis Tamer giving an rxhlbiiion on the Henry Faraua.

323 C

run inio the eye of the wind. He quickl) rose, rocking the while,
to a height of i,oao ft., where in spite of the wiaihtit^^aiiedoat
sharp bonk tums and similar manceuvres peculiar to the fett-rate
exhibiiion flyer. Several further exhibitions did he give during the
afternoon. The closing flight of the day wa« one by Grahame-White
oitl»ii7.(>-h.p. Nieupoit, and the speed tb»i tbis machine showed
fiMr die onus that the spectators had seen flj^g^uring the afternoon
wu most marked.

Sunday. April 7th.
Tliro^bout the previous night the wind had been steadily
dtopfbify and at dawn not a breath ot air was noticealde. This, to

AntiL 13, 19x2.

Grahame-Wilite's that had been resuscitated from the remains ttf the
machine that Drexel smashed at the Parliamentary Demonstration
last year. He flew around for about eight minutes at a height of
120 feel and made quite a good landing. On three further
occasions during the i-arly morniii'; did he fly, the third time taking
a barograph with Kim and gelling r'v^hl up to S50 metres, at which
height he (lew through two ?et-. of clouds, becoming; leir.porarily
invi.^ible to those watching Ills flight from l(ie grovmd. 1 lucks
undoubtedly has the makiiiL; of a verj- excellent pilot, for at his
fifth attempt on an Anzani-Uierioi he kept the machine up, with its
motor, it was one of the old ones, thpteatening to peter oat any

SOME OF THE HENDON PILOTS.— At the top Mr, T. O. M, Sopwith and Mr. Sassoon on Mr. Sopwith's 70.h.p.
Wcrtot. Below (left), Mr. B. C Hueks oo the BO-h.p. Bieriot, and on the right Mr. W. H. Ewea on his D^rdtiasiii.

nayt^ least of it, was .somewhat aiiniiyin<;, in view of the fan. iliai
no definite ptograsnmu of events liad been tixed for this liay. The
first out in the morning was Piensiell, on Harael's old Gnouu
SUriot, in which he has had installed one of the new 3S-h.j). V type
Ansani motors. For some unknown reason I'rensiell flew right
At a pyk)ne, which, although a very substantial structure of
wood, and resting on a wi^ base, he knocked right over. His
nuidune, as may be inu^pned, was eoBSiderably damaged, although
neither himself nor his motor sufTercd a whit from the unfortunate
Accident. Hacks, who a few days previously had been getting his
jnitiid experienoe of the Bleriot on one of Urahame- White's school
madiines, came out at about a quarter to seven on a Gnome-Bleriot

moment, for three cireuits. His spiral :vi /'.'uiir on the Gnome-
HU rioi from 2,500 feet wu . further eoniirmation of his ability.
Turner on I lie l ai maii-lyjn- l)ii>I;inc with CunisstyiM.- ailerons, and
l-.wen on iiis Deperdu-.sin, weie .\lso carrying out lengthy lliyhts.

Some time after breakfast Turner took out the old Farm.an, and
flew round the course at a low altitude, banking his corners terrifically
at the pylones. While we were wondering if il were safe to stand a
Farman on end so much, we heard cries of " Here comes Cody,"
and, lookii^ towaids the horizon, saw a biplane approaching at
about t,5oo feet level. There were more cries of " ]S;o it isn't. It's
Sopwith on the BurgessWright."

As a matter of lact neither were correct for it was Kaynham on

Mm. 13, 191a.

bopwith s Wright, who landed after doing a spin around die ^aant
and treating the few present lo a selection of banked turns. Ho^
while Lewis Turner, on the Famum, had ciunEcd fail tactics and wu
amusing himself by doing " 8witdihBdks»&fte manner orvinated

by ( .rahame- White some time since.

Then Sopwith took his seat in the Burgess-Wright and with Mr.
Sassoon by his side as passenger flew ofl' for a few circuits.

Spectators were immensely pleased with hi> delightfully easy
handling of the machine. His banks were wonderful. Descending,
he fiew along the front of I he enclosures al alx«il two feet from the
ground straight at the Ewen school Hlerioi. The two mechanics
attending that machine ducked for their ver>- lives. They might
have saved themselves the trouble, for he sini|ilv hopped over the
monoplane, down the other side, ami rontinued 'his grass-clipping
"nwncemedly. Next ofl w.as Hueks on the tjnoiue Uleriot. The
wind had risen meanwhile, and was blowing about 10 miles per hour.
He circled round for a quarter <»f an hour, banking hi> turns well.

Sunday afternoon was the best day of the meeting, and spectators
who took advantage of the good weather condition.s to visit the
aerodrome were treated to about as good an enienainmeni of flying
as would be possible under any circumstances. Those flying,
Messrs. Grahame- White, Sopwith, Hucks, Allen, flamel, Lewis
Turner, Ewen, and Raynham, and later Mrs. Stocks, are
undoubtedly the best exponents of the art in England, and their
flyii% was well np to their usual standard. Of different machines in
the air there was a good representative QDUeciion. Among the
monoplanes were the Nieuport, several Onome-Bl^riots, and a
Oeperdussin, and of biplanes two Farmans and Sopwith's Burgess-
Wnght. The wind averaging 10 miles per hour, with occasional gusts
up to 15 miles per hour, did not cause the competitors any trouble.
Grahame-White was first out doing a s])eed test round the py lone course,
cutting the comers very sharp and banking well accordingly. Five
laps he did at an average speed of 65 miles per hour. Shortly
afterwards Sopwith ascended with a passenger on his dual control
Hurgess-Wright, and gave an exhibition, showing in his turns how
extreme a lianking is possilile on a Wright biplane. Tlirou(;hout the
afternoon Hucks, Allen and llamel all gave excellent deiiioii-iraiions
of their handling of Gnome- Hleriots. On descending from his
Wright, Sopwith took up >r\eral pa^scnt;ers in succession on his
70-h.p. two-seatei l!li rinl, a maehim whii h ^eeiued 10 have an even
greater turn of speei! than on the many on■as^^ln^ when wi- have seen
it in flight) at Brooklands, this possibly being due to the fact
that a Levassor prt^Uer has been fitted. So ntuneroos were the

Th« Lord Mayor IntrodudnR Mr. Grahame- White to the
Lady Mayoress at the Hendoo Flying Meetlag.

Mrs. C. Stocks, the clev2r avUtress who v^as amongst Aws
who [lew at Hendon during the Easter Meeting.

flights that it wouUl Ix- impossible to detail each one, or un one
occasion there were no fewer than four Blerioli and a Depeidusiin in
the air at the same time. Both Mr. Gnihame-White and Lewis
Turner were extremely busy later on in the afteraoon in giving
passenger flights to several si>ecUtors. Amongst those naving
the pleasure of a trip with Mr. Grahame- White was Miia Maiferjr
Maude. Ewen, who had flown repeatedly on his a8-h.p. Deper-
duaun duriisg the afternoon, made a short cnws-country trip,
passing over Harrow at a height of aliout 500 ft. Here the
weather conditions were apparently not as good as at the aerodrome,
for on his return, he told us after the flight that he had Mch a kick
on his right wing that it t(M>k his control wheel right out of his hands
for the moment, knocked I he glass out of his engine revolution indicator,
and broke the needle of his altimeter off short. .\l aliout half-past
four Sopwith decided that his Hurgess- Wright must return to
Hrooklands, in view of the possibility of it tx-iiig ie'|uiri (Hor the
llying there on l''.aslei M.ni'i.i)-. It w.is flown liacf l^v K.iynli.nin,
who look a passenger uitli Inm. Mr ni.ide two cin uii-. to attain
.illilude, anil lef' in the I'.rooklatuls dii'-rtion at a hei^;lit of about
^ix) fl., arriving; at hi^ destination some 45 minutes afterwards.

Mr. ( .rahame White, on the l arman, took up with him
Capt. Tyrei, tile aerodrome nlaIla^;er. who is an ex|>ericnced shot,
and who tireii at inflated pa|>er li^ui.-, liln-rated from firework
Iminb . ' >ul of the half a doren or sosliotv lie made, only Ids first
eflect. I'ndoubtedly the experiment would have met with
'I . II greater success had Capt. Tyrer been accommodated on the
ma hine in a belter jilace than behind the pilot, from wbieh poritiOD
iic hail to exercise the utmost care in taking his aim, m order
to avoid canytng amy my cf tte impoKiBt wires openttiiic the
control or truMiig Ow mm/fiOiB ttraetttie. He proposes on futnie
occa-sions to fit a type of bMBiBodc below the lower plane, just under
the pilot's seat, so that lying loll length he may not be so encumbered.
M». Sti^di* abortly afterwards made quite a nice little flight romd
the aeroilroilK for several circuits and was afterwards taken up as •
passei^er by Grahame- White. The closing flight of the day was
one by Hamel, who ascended some 4,txx) ft. and caroe down by a
^nalBv/ ^^«/ that would almoM have drawn cheers froBl a I

Monday, April 8<h.
The wind on F.aster Monday was something colossal, having I
rom about JS o'clock the previous evening, and l)ccn steadily
increasing in force throughout the niglu. .\cio>s the helds, on the
foot-path leading from the l)Ottoiii of lltn<loii Hill to the aerodrome
i^ates, the winci was so strnn;; tliai on foot it was difficult to make
any headway against it. Hats went spinning in all directions.
In the aerodrome the strength of the wiiid can well be judged by
the fact that a tent hangar had its roof ripped off, and thai one

3«5

V

April ij^ 1913.

of the mark jiosls, cjuili: a massive ilructnre of '.*ood, had been
toppled completely over. In spite of the very nanutable conditions
all roadt> leading to the aerodrome were black yisitotb, and
although people intending to enter the aerodrome were warned that
ander no cbcumstance could flight be guaranie-'d, the enclosnres
were soon comfortably filled. And (iralianie WhjIe did not mean to
disapjxjint ihoni. At half [last three it was announced from the
Jtldges' box that lie would " parade " a l-ririiiaii biplane. The
machine in (jucsiion wa.s broufjht out with wrahameA\ hite in the
pilotV scat and held down to the f:;round by two mcclianica at each
wing-tip and two near the skills. Kvfn at that, the machine
threatened to blow over. To lun the machine over the ground
against the wind the enj;int had to be kejn going all out the whole
time, and even then the machine did not exceed the running pace of
the mechanics who kept it from H-aviiu; the |.;umn(l. In one
of these runs up the aerotirome it really seemed as if the machine
lifted all seven off the ground for a moment. After parading the
machine before the enclosures 'n order to pve the public an
opportunity of gra.<ipin(r the naiurr of an aeroplane at clcae quarters,
Cfrahame-White decided to attempt a .<ihort (light. With his chief
engineers Carr and Law standing one on 9»m dc^ Ik s^KlCted OP
the wind, and flew for about 200 ya3S3» at a tu^t of id &
Em fat this ihort di»tance he seemed to be in the air for quite
40* miautei so the speed dl the wind can be readily estimated.
iSvo more flights of the same order did he make. At the ter-
mhiation of his third ibt wind caught him, and made him bump
inlbiir heavily from d^pot 10 ft,, an incident which made it
evident tittt there is nRife sttength in the Fannan chassis than
is at first apparent. As regards this t^siSm of the machine
the only replacement necessary was one mbber shock-absorber.
In his exertions to kccji the machine on an even keel, Grahame-
Whhe had smashed up the pilot's seat and considerably bent his
Coot rudder- bar. An interval was called while these were being
mplaced, and then, with Lewis Turn(ri sitting on the rW/z/i"! to his
r|ght, and Caxr to his left, he taxied the machine over to the far
side of the ground, in order to get in a longer flight. He turned
up into the wind and got off the ground. When he was alx)ut
10 ft. up, a gust caught him under the left side of ihe v.'////, , and
no amount of manipulation of the levers could brin^ llie machine
back to the hiirizontal. It .sli[>|3<il down on to il^ rii^lit tip,
and on to the right hand cornel ol llic elcvaloi, and blew right
over. drahaine W hite and hniicr junii)e(i clear, ami the n:achine
I)a-s.sed right ovim ilu ir heads. C'arr l>eing on the side that was
rising, hung on for his life and went right over with the machine,
eventually crawling out from underneath the wreckage, his face

M. Salmet and Mx, Sopwitfa Htitttsl<iay
In the grale at Hendon Ftfiog

of flying

wreathed in ^n;iies. .\fier all, there was really not much danger in
the incident, foi ihe wind wa.s about equal to the flying six t d of the
machine, and its speed relative to the ground at that moment was
practically nil. < )f the ihiee, ( irahanie-White was the only one who
suffered anything apaii lioii, .lit't'ness, and tli.il only to the e.Xlent ol
a sprained ankle, from which he had recovered the following day. {

■i£2mSAP?Si"S?^ tti Ti« <Ma*^TO aiUkHA|iE-WHlTFS BIPLANE AT HENDON ON EASTER
aimiUikT.-0& «i Wi SfMMMMi -mmma* aae wea Uoan. Gtahme-Vhite, Lewis Turner, and HameU

326

Ar&n. ij, 1913.

HEAD RESISTANCE AND WING STRESSES.

This week we .publish below further yiews Hfoo the inportaat
npott made bjr If. Bl^riot to the Preticfa Goyetnment.

Mr. Archibald R. Low:—

Monsieur Bleriot's conclusion that the upjicr stay wire> of mono
plane wings should have nearly as large a factor of safety as ihe
lower stay wires is probably correct. From the reasoning by which
it is attained I must dissent.

There are Iwci main propositions in the argument. Kirst. that a
prc>sure may k- cxLVlid i.n tlu wne> c'lual to 01 j;i<..itci than thi-
normal sustcntation, but m tin- opposite diit'CtiDn, (Iuiiml; the ordinary
mannnivre of a changing iron; hori/tmtal llighl 10 a Second,
that it is needle.ss to carry the factor^ of safety higher than five 01
siXi because when greater stresses than five or six times the normal
are fanposed the resultant forces of inertia on the pilot's organs will
br »s dangerous as (he collapse of the machine and the MMeqvmt
shock of meeting the earth.

To the first proposition it may be objected that an instantaneous
chaise of direction, such as is shown in M. Bl^riot'.s diagram,
xeqaim an impalsive couple to be applied (o the machine. But such
a ooaple cannot be produced either by an eddy in the air or by the
^moor. M firiMB llww.tQniimv^ iQo|c|acoo«fd«of strioOy

ftiSts vahie.

If, however, the pilot, or a gust of wind, did produce an angulftr
velocity of such magnitude, and a currature in the path of the centre
.a|' gifnty so great that the centrifugal force al<Mig (he radius of
i6SW*itiire was greater than the force of gravity, then a downward
pressure would be exercised on the wings.

The front i>art of the machine would fall y<}.!/<rr ///<i» a stfltit, and
the whole apparatus would probably tumble head over heels like a
tumbler pigeon, while the pilot, who would fall .'n/i /as/ a-
v/w/f, would be left behind in the air, unless held down by a safety
lielt.

If the pilot (oi the wealhcri is so bad as to make this result
lirobablc he had nunii liettei stay on the ground.

If such an accident dofs hapjien, tlien onee llie machine is upside
<lown, the full stresses will coini- on ilie wings in llie reverse
direction, and il depends on ihe ability of liic \ijipci stay wires to
resist these sliesscs wlictlict the machine collap.scs m the air, or
holds together anil reaches the ground by a series of iiregiilai glides,
jXKsibly rightini; itself in the pioce-s.

There is actually the case on record of Reynold's bijilane, which
was upset by a violent eddy, and uhich did bring its pilot to the
grooad safely by a series of irr^gulai gliiics.

Fioally, it must be observed that the lower Had upper Ufty-wim
are strained pretty taut against each other.

If the lower wires are much heavier than the upper ones, the
stresses required to keep the heavy lower stays taut are quite
Sttffii^iept IP iHstth the light upper wnss.

ImniHdtiitt is pnmaUy oured, by the avenge me^ttiu^

by tightening up the upper wires which may thus be drawn out and
CTy.stalised to the point of collapse before the machine leaves the
ground. A hafd Ijixiding, and much more a serious accidcnt« might
readily snap off'lbe irfres thus weakened, without the breaking of the
wires being in any way directly responsible for the ac cidem.

With regard to the second proposition will you permit me to
amend slightly your translation of the last paragraphs of M. BMriot's
report.

These should read (translated somewhat freely} : —

" There is tbereiioK occasion for avoiding exaggetated futon of

safety.

" Their scale cf magnitude should be fixed with refeiencc lo the
resisting powers of the human frame, for (lie jjilots are .siil.'jecl to
impulsive forces of inertia "Inch .ire iransniitlcd through their whole
bodies, and whose tii.iviimin. |K)ssib)e inlen-ity is pro|>i>riional 10 the
numerical value ot the iactoi.^ of safety, at lea- 1 in tlu- i a^e nf -igid
machines with which alone we are concerned in aciiiai practice.'

This implies that a safety factor of five is reijuired to meet
actual working stres-ses of five times the normal stresses of steady
flying ; and, as already stated, that after such a point is reached, the
inertia stresses are so high that the pilot receives Ja/a/ injuries
inffH«iiy, and is therefore indifferent to the collapse of the machine.

tut iM the practise of laviation general stresses of double the
noraial stresses must be considered extremely rare, althoi^ local
increases of mnd> more than double may reasonably be anticipated.

And «iKtor mlmSfH^M tiMtf^ defined u the nUioof itte isMiiBate
liRaiciBitiiAss of idle timMr c o M ia ere d to ks mummni aieilaQlal
told.

Such a factor ot safety has to account tat the stresses arising from
il!iiu»1 stzAinSt for possible defects in Ae mntcrial, fat vibratioo
aad its unuVfidag effect on materiali«- at «dl us tat general
tof me is ea ingestaof wind.

We have not yet heard of internal injuries sustained by pilots
excepting the passing troubles of w.i/ tie mer.

.And all machines, and the eddies of air which buflet them, are
highly elastic, so that even if the machine meets a gust of air
traveUine at its owns|x-ed (a very severe conditionl the stresses arc
increased but l..vii tmu^ e\eii .u coidmg to the very limiletl theory that
the force is applied instantaneously to all )>.irts of the machine. And
actually they are increased much less than lour times^ OB aCC B BIIt
of the give of the machine and the elasticity of the air,

M. Hleriot may not really expose his ttvi. \ iews on construction
in his interesting reiwrt, but tliose he docs express ait certainly
exaggerated and misleading.

Mr. A. V. Roe:—

I certainly think it is a wi>e precaution to pay BUm attention to
the upper tnacing than has been usual in many cases, but it seens
hard in spite of M. Hit-riot's explanation to conceive a |m1<.i maUiog
a sufficiently sudden dev-ent lo cause excenive down ilnust on
wings, and yet it is pissiblc.

The pilot can easily feel when he makes n too sudden descent, loi
if the ail acts as a brake on the viiii>ei side ol wings, there will lie a
tendency to throw the pilot forwaul lioin his seat, owini; lo the
Cenliilii^:al action and checking of tli. s|.i-e.l.

Ilowcvei, 111 hitnie, pilots will Ix- tiioie caiehil wlirn stalling theii
vol ,'>/,;/;. , ot when they leijuire to make a sudden descent.

This kiKiwlcdce, together with a larger factor of safety on the
u|.|.ei bracing, Aouid icadcr uy more aocidenu of this ttature
unlikely.

Mr. W. O. MaaolBt:—

I am in agreement with M. HIeriot as to the possibility 01
getting a pressure on the top side oi' monoplane wings, and nave
no doubi that this occa«ionally occur.- in |>raclice, esi>ecially if the
monoplane is fast, and is fitted with controls so jMiwetful as u.
enable the machine 10 U- very suddenly dived. It is also certain
that this top piess.ne would U- considerably inciea.sed if a gttSt of
wind struck tlu ma. liine full in front at the ciitical moment.

Hut at ttic saiiu- lime, it is not easy to see how this prcssute can
amotint to very nuicli, as it is known thai when the ordinary cuived
plane Is placed at ui'h a great negative angle that one gels the
usual direction of the lift icveised, that this lilt is very small indeed,
and ceitaiiily as .1 masiiiuiin could lUlfdly •aXNlBt tO M mttch •>
hall the weight of thi- ma. Iiine.

I ,li,ciis>cil tills i.i,i!i<-i with sev.-ial well ! wii monoplane

pilots, and llu y all ,i-sun me th.u they havi iievet lound them-clv«s

being violently forced upwanK om ..f ili. n seals when diving, which
effect would certainly ih cui ii the lop piosurc Were coDsidetable.

Generally speaking, it seems to me quite im|XMaible that a serioOS
pressure can ever occur on the lop side of monoplane wings, ud
I therefore consider that this theory is insufficient to explain tae
too numerous cases of fidlttre of these wings during flight.

iVlr. Frederic Strickland {—

It has alwaysappeaied to me that, judging £com purely theoretical
grounds, monoplane wings were weak inoeruindbcetioni, opedttly

horizontally.

With the usual arrangement of trussing thereitptovisionfer taking
the vertical load, tml very lillle for taking the horizontal one. TlUe
in most cases the truss wires lead forward somewhat, and if it is
assumed that the only stresses on the wing of an aeroplane are Ifaoae
due to ail pressure at tight an|^ to tiw Mifue, thi* may be

sufhcieni.

This assumption does not, however, seem jusiilied. Tlu' lieaii
resistance and the weigh! Uiurne by the planes an not n. i . ssaiily
propoitionate to each other. Ileiicc, if the wings are lempoi.iiily

relieved of the weight, there is no trussing to oievent the wings

' " the speed is tl the

same time high, as at the end of 3 steep vol platU,

folding back, and they may do so, esjiecially if

The possibility of failure in this direction WIS pointed out in
Engineering' some two years ago, and rejieated sevtnl tiOWl HBCe.
Whether the various tulnret Me dne MB Aie ttlelnffMjflit t»tiU
accurately, but there seems ■oBe naiOB tn iMolt M, U dte fast
place high speed rather than excessive loading appeazs to hnve
genaally been the cause of break^ ; in the leeaQd, we only photo
I have seen of a wing failing fpu dw taupmia^ ol \mj^^am
back more than up ; and in the uiifdt ten kafeeDid 1s^ Wviiun el
a wing failing from horizontal wcalraeas when so near the gioud
that a safe landing was effected. In this case there was.

definite proof that the wing was too weak horiaoDtaUy,

enough vertically, and had the failure occumd wtaCB
ground the aviator would have been killed.

With regard to M . Bleriot's letter, b it, of ooune, quite possible
that when making a sudden dive the y a— iw k ■iWMBtei flf elimn Iht

327

winnill place of below. Ii is aKso possible to calculate what radius
of the vertical turn is necessary to product- thi^ and to calculate
thf niiiount of pressure for any radiin or lutn and s[>eod. Any
failure friun this course would, however, take place at the begiauing
of a rul plan^ and not «t tiw end n 1ms certMoiy been the cue with
several lailures.

A point of great importance in hb letter is the question of what is
meant by the " factor of Mfety of five " allowed for the main
tnm trim. If it means tfapt Ity trt^li ing stienglb (a« per testing
aaefainej is only five tim^ w tfii^ hNid dne to the weight of the
mwhfaw, &e., I think most tupueeii woold ocstainly tbiuc it very
low and would expect accidents.

I nuj poiirt ont alio that ihile iStkm mi. irin as nsed for
tta tni M t i of aeroplanes, hwe bewa femd too nwdiaUe for use in
racing sailing boats and have been aboadooed in finonr of wiiecigpei
It does not necessarily follow that th^r are imsaitafclf for vntfpllnes
fast the point is worth considering.

AmL 13, 1912.

Arguing solelx from iheoren'cal considerations I would suggest :—

1. Providing the wings with substantial fore stays independent of
the mam truss wires.

2. Ascertaining by experiment the shortest practicable radius
of turn at the beginning and end of a vol plane, and providing truss
wires to take the centrifugal force eau^ed by such turns with the
usual factors of safety. The pressures on the wings are easily
calculable, as accurately as siu h other stresses in structures {vide
" Monoplanes and liiplanes," published by Hunn and Co., and
Engimerins, for January I2th, 1912).

It also seems to me that it would restoie public confidence greatljr
if persons who allow a good factor of safety would publish their
calculations.

" Monoplanes and Biplanes " is a Iwok written by Greyer
Cleveland Loening, published by Munn and Co., New Ycn^ and
Sampson, Low, Marston and Co., Ltd., IxHidon.

® ® ® ®

AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

ABBREVIATED FORECAST OF MR. T. W. K. CLARKE'S PAPER ON "AUTOMATIC STABILITY"
(WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CLARKE-JOHNSON GYROSCOPIC CONTROL) WHICH WILL
BB READ AND DISCUSSED AT THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS, MONDAY, APRIL 15th, at 8.30 p.m.

PROF. JOHN PERRY, F.R.S., IN THE CHAIR.

be the same as those actually disturbing the machine, and a lack
of harmony in its operation is the result.

14. The following is a description of an apparatus embodying the
chief points enumerated above. It is a gyroscopic control and is
brought into oiieration by the lilting of the machine. It regulates a
relay mechanism, whereby the balancing organs are actually mani-
pulated. It is light, compact, and can be sensitively adjusted
without becoming unreliable.

15. The gyroscope is four inches in diameter and consists of the
external rotor (rf a Small etectric motor that is driven by a lo-Yolt

battery.

16. Its axis of rotation is horizontally across tlie lineof flight and

its siip|x)riing frame is pivoted on a vertical axis.

17. All stiidtnis are familiar with the frtct that ilUlng the spinning
axis of a gyroscope in one plane causes .a reactionary "kick"
l)recession in a plane at riglil angles thereto.

iJi. If, therefore, the aeroplane tilts laterally, the gyroscope will
swing round on its vertical pivots in conse<]uence.

19. Such action on the part of this gyroscope operates a switch
that energises a magnetic clutch normally running free on a rotating
shaft that is driven by the engine of the aeroplane.

20. There are two such clutches, either of which comes iilto
oi)eration according to the direction in which the gyroscope swings,
which direction is detemuned by the direction tilt cm toe part of
the aeroplane.

21. When one of the clutches is engaged it throws the mechanism
into gear by means of which the engine power is utilised for operar
ting the balancing planes ud ^tpl xiptt^idllg JOpOib^im*

22. There b an important ^mt %ma in th^ -miiStiHiils <tf
gyroscopic control inasmuch as the precessiunal movement towards
the switch contacts is proportional to the speed of tilt, that is to say
a sudden disturbance <^ the machine's equilibrium produces a corres-
pondingly sudden switdiing on of the controlling apparatus.

23. The gyroscope as a whole is moimted on a hinged board that
is normally in the same plane as the wings of the machine, but is so
interconnected with the steering gear as to cause the board to be
tilted while steering. This enables the machine to be banked for
turning, whereas otherwise the automatic control would maintain an
even keel during this evolution and thus tend to induce skidding.

24. Electric current is fed to the gyroscope by contacts in the
bottom pivot bearing.

25. The controlling mechanism for operating the balancers is so
arranged tliai they can be hand-controlled independently. The
influence of sucli hnnd control is additional to that caused by the
gyroscoiie, that is to say, if both happen to opuate tOgedlR then the
result produced is conespondentiy magnified.

1. There are three systems of stabilising aeroplanes : —

a. Natural. I'er.sonal. • . .Automatic.

2. Natural stability is inherent in the form of the machine.
A welUknown example of this principle is the dihedral angle.

The characteristic of this system is Chat the machine tends to maintain
a CMistant attitude to toe relative wind, consetguently if the wind
veers excessively the machine Iiecomes unsteady in trying to
maintain its balance.

3. I'ersonal control, by the operation of balancing planes, wing
war[)ing, iSic, is the system commonly in use to-day. Its limita-
tions are those incidental to the human factor in air-controlling
systems, which it is the purpose of oatozid (od aotomatic stability
to as far as [lossible remove.

.4. Automatic control utilise', the Kaiiie biiluii(;ing organs as are
ordii\atily comrolltd l>y luiniaii agency, but brings them auto-
matically into action by meehanical means.

5. It is with the last mentioned system that this papei deals in
particular.

6. A point that is immediately obvious from a study of the
principle of automatic control is that the instrument applied to tllB
purpose must have an inherent " sense of direction."

7. This rurrows the investigation 10 three devices (i) the
pendulum weight, which jiossesses the inherent directive etTort
of gravity; (h) the compass, which is directed by the earth's
magnetism ; (iii) the gyroscope, which is directed by its rotational
momentum.

8. The objection to the pendulum weight is its natural oscillation,
which is liltdy to make the machine mM^adr whHie recovering from
a distm r bane e , and also to make the oi^Ku onn^aUie when it is
sensitively set.

9. The objection to tlie compass is its weakness as a force for
opeiatmg practical mechanisms.

la With the properties of the gyroscope it is the purpose of tli^s
foper to deal.

II. It is self-evident that direct control of the balancing organs
by the stabilisir\g instrument involves a very heavy amuatlK wA.
tends to reduce sensitiveness, consequently the p i i nt a pte of the
relay most be accepted as fundamental, whatever the nature of tlie
Ifutiuinent.

la. Assured of adequate sensitiveness, it is natural to oonchide
that the most satisfactory way of bringing the instrument into
operation is to make it .subject to the lilting of the machine.

13. This principle has the great advantage of ensuring that the
conditions to 1«- corrected are tho.ic actually disturl)ing the machine,
whereas it the instrument is controlled i.y a small supplementary
wind vane the conditions that it attempts to correct may not quite

Belgium Proposes an International Contest.

The Belgian Aero t'lub has suggested the holding, in about
two months' time, of an Inlern.Ttional cnnipelitioi,, ih which
Germany, Belgium, France, and Ciieal Britain should Ix- leprescnted
by teams consisting ot .1 monoplane and a biplane. It is proposed
that the contest should be- over an out-and home course of 500 kiloms.,
sWrting from the neighUnirhood of lirus-els. and the prizes to be
50,000 francs, 3o,ckx) francs, and 20,oco francs respectively for the
teams placed first, second, and third. The wimuf^ teamwoitid be
the one whose aggregate time was the best.

33S

® ®

Fckln to P^ris by Aeroplane.

The Matin, which surprised the world widt die audacity of its
proposal to organise a motor car race firom P^n to Paris in 1907,
and which, as will be remembered, was successfully carried through,
has now detinitely aimounced that it will organise a flying race
between the same two capitals. No details have been published
yet, but our contemporary aimotmces that the prize will be com-
mensurate with the time, trouble and expense inv$dved in flying Ova
such a course of 7,500 miles. Mr. Hjaad faii e ap tel l ea ^
i nte n ti o n of takii^ part in the race. ■ ~

April 13, 191?,

Air Eddies.

Mr. Holt Thomas, who, as recorded in these pa^^es last week,
has taken over the sole agency for Henry and M aiirice J armari aero-
planes and hydro-aeroplanes for England, ha-s engaged four haIlga^^
at Heodon, which ground ht igitguta' ludce utt diief AyioQ
centre. It is quite on the tafiit ^tet fM&n tbae shall have the
opportunity of again seeing Kenanx flying at Hendon, for I under-
stand that arrangements are being made for that well-known French
pilot to come o!*«ir to this tide of the Chanoel for the pmpow of
demctutiktn^ these well-known machines.

« « •

Besides Kenaux, there is more than a chance of seeint; M . Caudron
Hying at Ilendon during the next week or so. I'hi Knglish agency
for Caudron aeroplanes has, as is mentioned elsewhere, Ix^on aci)uired
by Mr. VV. II. l.wen, who should really have delivery of his lirst
biplane by the time these lines appear. It is M. Caudron's plan to
come over with his nuchtee «nd penoMdljr cany oat ptdnifaiuy

demonstrations.

• ♦ •

Charles Ilubeil is rather happy that he has managed to get
excused from doing his conscription service in France on account of
the weakness that he yet feels in his However, he says, " Voii

will be surprised to see how easily I wall now without much hnrping ;
but even this limpit^ business will gradually get less, and in a few
months no one, 1 thuik, irfU ever know that I had such a bad tpiU
in September last."

♦ ♦ •

The many friends d Mr. Fnrbank, one of the (landers pupils at
Brooklands, who flew uitder the name of Mr. " Lark," will be glad
to hear tiut he n steadSy impionng from the rather bad aecident
that he wiittaiiiwa on the l6tb of hut month.

Salmet, whose wonderful flight from London to Paris and liark
will long be remembered in the annals of aviation, intends, when
he gets delivery of the new monoplane wliich .M. Hleriof ha.s
promised him, and when the weather gei.s mote lavourablc for long
ORH^^untry flying, to attempt to fly from London to Paris and on
to lferlin hi one day.

• • *

Unite surprising progress did Hucks and Lewis Turner make in
f^rr.*!*^ the Anzani-BlAriot Turner, who had never before been
on sk iiicnopbuie, at his first attempt made two circuits. On Wed-
nesday of last week, Hucks got down to the aerodrome early, and
after twiddling violently, as I predicted a week or two ago, made
quite a nice stTa%ht flight. Once in the air, he had full control,
but governing such a low-powered machine on the ground with such
a flexible chassis as a Bleriot is endowed with, is .|uitc a different
matter. However, during the morning he ^ot fmui sirai;:his to
droiitS, and after breakfast kept the little machine in the .irr lor
five drcaits, in spite of a failing engine. Turner, not to be outdone,
duni insnt ahead and made six circuits on the same machine, but
tiuu, af eonne, he is mnoh li^^ Am Hndca.

Sippe is getting on very nicely with the e.s!>er)n!ent- wn))
Commander Schwann's .\vti> hydm- biplane, te.st.- of which lie is
su[K!rintending at Barrow. On Tuesday of la.sl week he had the
ma. hine out and made .several short (lights. The machine has now
been tilted with floats of Duralumin at Messrs. Vickers' works.
Si|ipc's i hief trouble seems to Ik- to know how to avoid the pro-
peller l(econiinc chi|)ped through contact with the spray thrown up.
The ends of the proix.-ller have been bound, bnt this precMtbooisnot
apparently quite satisfactory.

♦ • ■ ♦

The most closely contested competition during the coming season
promises to be the Daify Medl circuit of London, which provides a
comfoltahie 120 miles circuit round the Metropolis. The course has
not yet been decided but wiU probably lie, suriing from Hendon,
over Wembley Park, Ealing, over Brentford to Wimbledon ; thence
via Streatham and Tootii« to the Crystal Palace. From this point,
passing Shooter's Hill, the Thames will be crossed somewhere
J^id, and a return made via Wanstead and Tottenham— quite a
ffTnT*iF«-M> little jaunt for one day's flying. I n widi tion to oftcnng
a trophy die i><rfi^^«tf •» pBttti* «* **^ prate.

• ♦ •

Chatting to a friend the other day about the weird notioof M
regards the general outline of an aeroplane that most bo<Jc flht-
tratois seem to possess, brought back to memory a moat aimMill(

incident that hap|>ened when I was connected with a inn. tha'
amongst their many activities, undertook the supplv ,ii p.ms ^ikI
aooessories to the amateur tmilder. A gecileman 1 ailed one day
with a view to obtaining a i>air of propellers for a machine he was
then constructing. Of such moment did he deem his invention,
and such secrecy did he mean to maintatn regardiae it* detailaa thai
it was with diiSkulty that I managed to wheedle from Mm dw
neoeasary data for the propdler man lo worit on. lb flaaHMMt
with, he expbuned Aat as he had had little experieaoe in atrhjii
he was a steam laundry proprietor by calUng — perhapi the fnr
details he purposed giving would arouse some small amonat of
incrednlity. However, he assured me that the design wai |ke
result more of an inspiration than of actual study, and that a 4nj
would dawn when its lUility would be uiuversaUy tccQgniaed.

Then followed pnlhninary details. The sjiced was to be anythJi^
between 60 and 120 miles an hour, the weight, all on, 500 lbs., for
lus motor he intended to use a 2-h,p. motor cycle engine, and the
clearance from the pro]>cller huh to the grouml, 20 inches. 1 began

to be iiitereskd, ami urging for further details he, in contidencc,
sketched ine a rough outline of the mai hine. I.nijuiring how he
intended getting 120 miles an hour out of a .:-h.p. engine, he
explained that, as the machine was equipped with si.\ jHnoers, that
would tie quite eaey of attahuneat. He f
" powers."

then lecapiwhUBd hit

His first was his aeoi^ane, a cambered surfiux some 10 A. by
6 ft., arranged above the haul of the pilot like an awning. His
second power was a gas-bag, 6 ft. long by 3 ft. in diameter, which
he reckoned on being (|uite sufficient to lift the whole machine. I
hiifeu|><>n pointed out that the hydrogen contained by a gas-bag that
rfiie would lift just over 3 lbs., and that, eitiniathiK ^'^B'^' ^ ^
envelo|« and the internal framework necessary to keep it rigid in
a relative wind of lao miles an hour, at 5 IIh>., he would be at a net
loiis of about 2 lbs. over the gas-bag. At this juncture he glared al
mr with an i vil eye, btit nothing dawited, piuc ee j ed to ten ne of
the rest of his powers.

• • •

His third were exteneieai of the main aeroplane which flapped.
His fourth power was fiis motor of a-h.u. as exj>lained previondy,
his fifth were his twin pro]iellers, and for his sixth |x>wer he
reckoned to do a little bii on hl.s own account by fiedalling. From
this data I [ilungcd into calculations, and estimated that two
propellers 36 ins. 111 diameter, chain driven in opposite directions,
would just be about his mark. With so many " |iowers " cranmed
on to one small machine, he ficured that wild honei eonld not
imvent it attaining immediate and glorious success.

There is ratliei .m .nnusiiig s. (|iu l In this anecdote. We had just
arrived at this st.i^e, wlieii the ollice boy entered and infornn d me

thiit Mr. , aeinnautical engineer, would like lo know if he

could have the pleasure ">f supplying me with aiiylhiiig. I loi kcd
the steam laundry jiroprietoi in iii) looin, and w ni (Jut to ;t.c the
aeronautical engineer. \ es, lie could supjily me »ilh sonielhiiig
he lould supply ;i p.iii of propeller.s. 1 gave hiii: ;i nioM inmplrtc
sj.erilicaiinn. They wen- lo lie of a ceriain jiileh, certain diameter,
of live laminations of ditierent kinds of walnut, and the blades to be
silk -covered and varnished. They were to resemble Chauviires,
and they wore to revolve in opposite directions and absorb 8-h>p. at
1,000 revs.

• • ♦

I thought the liest idea would l>e for him to cut along back to his
works, figure the whole ihing out, an<l lel me have an estimate by
the following morning. Thi;> course he thought unnecessary. He
scratched his head, Uxikeii wise, and, after a minute's pause >aid ;
" ilm— yes — let's see. What shall we say ? Hm ! I can let you
know now. What! Ill do 'em fi« ieven thiOiagi tlw pab, if MtU
suit you."

I closed w ith him, and went back to the inventor, whoea 1 1
wonld get his propeller* within a day or two. He left in very eood
mkitu, ninuaiiAeqiae, The propellers arrived three days uter-
waids ; and «nte aoeeiat job they wen, conridering the work they
woe intended for. At any rate, I mm vtKj ^"997* ^ ^ pmwlded
me wMi an excellent momhjg'a aa wwement . Mjwin made j£4 13*.
over the deal 1

rROM TH£ BRITISH

lUftf Au» CUb Grarad, Euteluueh.

Wrra most of the K«»ri ;wiNtei» «i^ laM«»iAer die fitrenaoa«
. wodcof the kit few wedn, dw Etstdmreh Aerodione was unumatly
tgiHimag the holidays.

On lPBeid«7» Commander Samson, R.N,, put the new Shorl
XOO-h.p. tnMMC biplanei which had Iteen coostnKIWd ^ Ni>-Val
purposes, thraq^ lier firet trials. The machine vat ttsted & M
excellent in evety way, showing remarkable cliinbing powers with a
ver^' flat gliding angle, although her construction is anusnally strong
and solid. During the fluda Ommaitder Sanuon attaated an
altitude of about 2,aoo ft. The speed of the machine was estimated
at 60 miles per hour.

In the afd-rnoon Capl. i.irianl, R. M. L.I. , and Lieut. (Gregory,
R.N., Wert- also practising on the Naval School machines, although
the wind was blowing strongly, flying ovci SlR-eniosh together at an
altitude of i,oc» ft., where they met wi:li Mime very strong wind
currents an<l had several vertical lirops iliic to .so-called air-i)Ockets ;
otherwise, the machines were exceptionally steady, and their
behaviour in ^usty wes^in is inspiring gnat confidence in diis type

of machine.

( Jn Saiiiidiiy afterno(jii, Mr. I rank Mcl^lean and Professoi
lliiiitinnion were the only aviators llyiny, the former on his 70 h. p.
Short tractor liiiilane, and the latiei on his automatic sta'aility
mactiine of the early Dunne ty|>t:. 1 )n hoth days the weather was
very unsettled, Mr. McC'lean havint; a ]particidarly rou<;h time when
flying near Ilarty I Vrryon .Sunday afternoon. Professor lluntin^^ton
made .several short flights at the height of some 30 or 40 ft. He has
recently adopted the Short landing chassis to his machine, as being
tlie moat suitable he has found for landii^ on rough ground.

On Tuesday evening, Mr. Franic McOean was out on the 70-h.p.
Tractor, flying in t eenidenible wind, which showed over 20 miles
per hoar on the mid recorder. By 7 p.m., however, the wind
dropped to a calm, and later McClean took up two passengers, viz.,
Miss Marion Spicer and Mr. LAncelot Spicer, giving them a fine
flight round the .icrodrome at an altitude of about aoo ft.

BrookUads Auoitemt.

WftAt^ oondidbns are not yet «fl duit eoidd be deifred. On
Tuesday last week only a little fljring took place. Pizey on the
Bristol biplane took up Mackworth, after which the pupil made
•one atniglit tido ffip^ts. Msi}oi Bfttnennni en the same maiduae
flew a few ctrciiits.

Kaynham on the Burgess- Wright toofc in turn HioWaid-
Wr^t, Hedlcy, and a mechanic, while Salifem performed a circuit
or two on the Deperdnssin brn<fl machine.

Wednesday was rather better. At the Bristol school Mackworth
reached the cirejiit *ttg*f making very nice turns. Fleming ud
Pizcy wca loth out with ))upils during the day. Gin, on the
Deperdus!>in, put op a good flight at an altitude of some seventy
feet, and sfaotild soon be ready to lake ht» certificate. C. C. Turner

FI^YINO GROUNDS.

alto on a Deperdussin, put in some rolling practice, his operations
being brought to a finish through a wheel buckling owing to a
sharp turn. About eleven o'clock Pixion turned up from Salisbury
on a two-seater Bristol monoplane, with Lieat. Ashton as
passenger. The journey occupied about an hour, the 9st b^S|g[
very binipy in places. Soon after Sopwith \A for BDindjiinr
on his 70-h.p. Gnome-engined BUriot, taking Hedley as passenger.
He also found it a bit bumpy, bat sucoeeded in reaching Hendon in
17 miimtes. Fisher bronglU oat the rebuilt Hanriot for a trial, and
after an alteration had beoi made to the propeller flew for about five
minutes. The machine handled very wdl, and showed much iot'
provement in its cliinbing powers, rising at times almost liik^. tt
Gnome-Bleriot. Raynham on the Wright gave inAntctians to
Howard- Wright, Hedley and 'S'oung.

Thursday was a bad day. In the early morning Porte was up for
15 minutes on the 1 ie}X!rdussin racer. Capl. IJioke-Sraith on a
Hristol biplane made several circuits in a tricky wind, and Pizey and
Fleming were doing solos. The next day was a blank, and on
Saturday only Bristol machines were in the air, Pixton testing a new
engine in the two-seater monoplane.

A vast improvement was experienced on Sunday, the morning being
absolutely perfect for flying. Before breakfast 1 1 machines were out.
One of the first was Sfiencer on the biplane he lias constructed out
of the old Macfle. The machine lifted at a remarkably low speed ;
in fact, the chief difficulty seemed to lie to bring her down, .\- when
the engine was switched off the tail immediately cuniu.L in 1 tl lo
droji, causing tlie machine to rise. In spite of this, .Spt^ncer made
a short trip outside the aerodrome at a fair heigtit. When she is
luncd up. thi- biplane should lie an excellent school machine.

Aiiiiihcr old friend out was the racing-type I'arraan, built liv
Klondeau some time back, and used by Lieut. Snowdon-Sraith.
Klondcau made a few circuits, and then Lieut. Hewlett took her foi
several .straights, but found the engine missing too b.idly to continue,
1- isher brought out the Flanders monoplane for the first time since
l-'urbank's smash three weeks agfi, and round everything all right,
making; a 1 tiii|'Ir "T nii^lii^ of i and lO niinmcs' duration.

At the llrisioi s( hiKil, I 'apt. Brokc-hiiiiih p.issed fur his certiticate
in excellent style, flying with great steadiness and jivecision.
P'ielding and Mackworth both put u]i good long (lights, and Capl.
Allen on the Anzani-engined monoplane flc w several circuit- at a
height of about 150 ft., showing great improvement in ids landing.
Chinery on the Deperdussin made a good flight with right and lefi
hand turns, and Voung on the Wright was out d<.>ing straight solo
flights. Later on in the day, Kaynham flew over to Hendon on the
Wright, taking lledley as passenger, and returning with Voung a.s
passenger in the evening. The outward trip occupied 24 mins.,
while the return journey took 52 mins. In the neighbourhood <A
Ealing the machine stood practically stationary for .some minutes,
and it was only by descending to a lower level that progress could
be made.

In the afii:niiiqi»i, Kirten and Vtalentine were ^th ent on^eir
two-seater Bristol monoplanes tuning up. Bodi
went outside the aerodrome, reaching a good he^ht,
and coming down in spiral vol ptanis. Fleming
took out the biplane, bat found it loo bumpy for
pupihs. The Flanders monoplane, piloted by Fisher,
was out again, testing a new propeller, and flying
very strongly. I'etre and Sabelli both took trips on
the I )ejicrdussin racer, and Perdval was doing
Straights on his rebuilt biplane.

Eleven entries had been received for the cross-
country handicap race to Chobham and back on
Easter Monday, but owing to the high wind, which
toccasionally reached 60 miles an hour, the race had
to lie cancelled.

A new comer during the week wa.s the Avro mono-
plane, wliicli is now in course of erection. This is
a hi'j;lily original machine, about which there is
bound lo be great divergence of opinion. The
rectangular hi>elage is very deep, the ]iilot being
completely enclosed, and obtaining his view of the
outside World through a number of windows covered
with non-inflammable celluloid. The motor, a 50-h.p.
Viale, is supported in front outside the covering.
The pilot climbs in through a trap-door in ihr rixif,
and in the case of an upside down landing makes an
emergency exit dunmi^ die nde vidi a pMT «f wine

cutters.

THE NEW AVRO RUUTARY
iaACHINB.-Vtew of A.

PATTERN ENCLOSEIVTyFiB
Md fimt pRft o( the ftisehift.

330

Loadoa
Hen d on .

Gnbune-Viblte S^ooL— Weather oooditions
were more fimmraUe on Tneadny, hst week, nod

AnoL 13, X9ZX

a fair da) > u
Turner put ii
about 200 ft.

on the satiii

aflcrwaid- lakini; up three iauy p;

Wediiesda)- was a jierfect tlyin^
early morning till dusk, Mr. I luck
plane No. 4, doing siraifihts,
Ix'wis TuriH-r on biplane No
Mr. Riniix'U awc. now pupil...)

k » a,s [Kibsible. In the early morning Mr. Lewis
liuiui .in hour at circuit.s on biplane No. 2, flying at
in a i5'niilt wim!. Mi. C. Grahame- White wu oat
niaohiiK' in tiu i giving exhibition (fights and

up three iauy 1 lu^-t-ngcrN.

lay, and ilii- schiKil wa> busy from
o()ening ihe day .-. wotk on mono-
circuits and figure> of eight. Mt.
2 at circuits, with Mr. Morris and
111 the |Jla^^cngl:r scat in turn, after-

EdnMiadt aa AiutraliaD
in tiw cootrob.

wards doing a solo lliglu over the Welsh Harp and b;ick and then up
with Mr. Koupell again. Mr. (iatcs on same marhine was doing
several circuits ; Messrs. Manton, Morris and .Major Lile^ all rolling
on biplane Mo. 3. In the aftemocn lUx. Lewis Turner on monofJane
No. 4 was doing eiveuits, atterwaxda teturaing to biplane No. 2 and
maki^ eight passenger flights before taming the machine over to
Mrs. Stocks, who flew sereral circuits in her nsnal prafenional style.
'I)li»lVW:jb0r ^ appearance after a three months' tour abroad in which
idte lais beeti indnlgmg since obtaining her brevet. During the inom>
ing Mr. Sopwith had flown over from BrookUnds on nis TO-h.p.
Bleriot, and during the afternoon made two flights with a passenger,
banking wonderfully and executing magnificent .spiral rW planes.
Mr. Grahame- White also had his 70-h.p. Nieii)K>rt brought out, and
made a 15-minutes exhibition flight, flying very low and banking in
his usual inimitable style, afterwards making a flight over the
surrounding country and landing cn vol p!iin<f in ])cifei t f.ishion :
afterwards he was out on biplane No. 2, with passenger, llyiiig out
over the Edgware road ; Mr. Lewis Turner then tcxik up one more
l>assengei lx.-foii turning the machine ovci iir Mr. Hiard, who
finished the day's work with several circuits. Friday, Saturday,
Sunday and Monday's work doxiitg the Easter meeting u dealt with

elsewhere in tliis issue.

Bleriot School. — Messrs. Trenilett and I'ullie! were on TtaCiday
last week Ijoth doing ciri'iiits, whilst Messrs. Aulieii and Clapjien
confined ihemsclvcs to making: straight- across ground.

Wednesday was n very gi«iil day for piipii.., and seven of the
school were veiy hard at work prari i^iii;; : itie palm (01 hard woik
during the day liaviiig to be .iwaided to .\ulx:rt, wlm pu; in 110
fewer than 15 straights. Messrs. 1 renilett and I'othei, whci.ire
shaping very well, were doing circuits in good style, whilsi .Messis.
Welburn, 'I homscn, 'leulade and Clappen were all practising
straights. The reiiiaiiulei of the week no school work was possible
owing to the ii'.' l'-!! ■ ir wr atlii'i.

W. H. Ewen School. — in spile of the uiifa\ H;raLjlc weather, a
fair aniniint of school work is being put in. < Mi Wednesday last
week ideal conditions were experienced, and the pupils at the school
were busy from morning till night, all shewing spleitdid results, both
rolling and flying. On Sunday, before the exhibition flying at
the aerodrome commenced, the school put in some good practkse,
practically all the pupils being out in force and getting some woric
in. Again, on TffMidinr, the wind diopped about six e'^hidct and
the pupils were out iiritil dark, when Lieuts. Pennircnick and Kerridc

splendid prqpeH. Mi. David

pnfu; lomeil die idHSl* and had his fint

SaUiteiT Plain.

MMel SchooL— No i]rii« was poMiUie on Monday of but
wedc on account of the terrific wind blowing. Tuesday was more
propitiotts, and tome excellent work was put in by Pixtun on the
two-seater monoplane from the Bristol wwks at Filton. He got
away quickly, and to a great altitude, landing by means Of a
licauiiful vol flani. Hotchkiss bf this Unte was making a circuit
on No. 5^, Jullerot also being oat givint tesMot to Lieut. Edmund*,
Mr. Jeniungs, and Lieut. ICrcule.

Wednesday Jullerot found the weather fidriy ferooraUai and
amongst those in the air were tiordon Kngland, Lieut. Edmund*
and Lieut. Antonini. Lieut. I reeman made two good solo* on
No. 55, jullerot giving lessons to l.ieiit. Mi Aiihui and Mr. jcnning*.
tiordon Lngland was alx.) taking Licuu. Mc.\rlluii and lulmunds.
I'ol. Smeatoii ni.ade a line sok' liiiishing w ttli a gi.u cful l.iiiding,
after which I'ixton with l.ievil. .Vslilon a-. pa-M'iigoi ■■<m ouI on one of
the Bristol monoiilanes li i Hrooklaiids. Slews arrived lalei llial he
had SBCCescfully reached his destination, having covered the disi nic-
of about 60 miles undri an hour. Linn Ldiiiunds made thicc line

solos.

Thursday was a f.-iMly busy day, JuUurol and his statT giving
lessons to ail the pupils, some of whom flew (or sokw.

Friday the wind was very strong all day, and school wnfc wa»
eonsidembly nstricted. Homwt ndfantage was taken of calm
intervals, and a few flight* woito node.

Jullerot was out first thing making a trial, after which he gave n
flight to a visitor. Lieut. Edmnno*, who ha* been making good
progress, was taken out for vol plaiu practice, Lieut. liatl going
lor a solo trip. The tests for the second part of his cerlificate wate
then paised by Lieut. Freeman, who has shown hims<-lf un adept at
flying. Two other pupils succesifiilly passed their tests, lioth
carrying out their flights in fine style. This completed the morning's
work. Towards evening Jullerot again hud his staff out, Init found
the wind very strongt and the only flights made were by jullerot,
who managed his fli^t nUMhino spwndMly tai fMSof the trsaeharem
slate of the wind.

Royal Flying Corp.s. — Unsuitable weather and llic Lasicr
Holidays are accountable for the fact that there has Ix-en ptariii ally
no flying during the past few days. ( )ii \\ i-diies*lay week Iheie w as
just a siiell of calm, when Mi. ili ilavillaml aiiived 011 his new
Army biplane from KainbuM.ii;'!. II. ie|)orted having had ;i vaiird
experience, h.iviiig to land one t. . m. niirc his way through Ijeiiig
lost in the fog, while he also had lo ily round Stonchengc before
he could locate the hangars. About six o'clmrk in the evening, Mr.
de Havilland remounted his machine and after several drcuiu of the
aerodrome, during which he had risen to a height of about 1,000 ft.,
he headed off for F'amborough, the machine exhibiting a very fine
turn of speed. Capt. Fnltoo and Lient. Reynolds put in a little
pnettoe oaring the day on their Ufdanes. The sdwol then dosed
down for a weCkV holiday.
® ®

AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

OFFICIAL NOTICES h& SUn>UBD BY THE SBCRETAMT.

Cetmefl lor 1912. — ^As the lesnlt of tho recent election the Conncil
(or 1912 is composed as follows ; —

A. E. Berriman.
Q>1. J. E. Caliper, C.B., R.E.

B. G. Coo|jer.

Lieut. K. Gregoiy, R.N.

Capt. E. M. Maitland.
I F. K. McClean.
I Col. H. E. Rawson, C.K., K L.

Majoi I leiieral K. .M. Ruck.

meeting of the present .session will be held
.'Vrts, John Street, Adelphi, on .Monday,

•/ . \nriatr Fellem.

t.ritiiih Brewer.
Capt. A. D. Garden, R.E.
T. W. K. Clarke.
J. W. Dunne.
J. H. Ledebocr.
Alex. Ogilvic.
Mervyn O'flormaii.
F. Tlandley Page.
Meetings. —The fifth
at the Royal Society of

April I5lh, at S.30 p.m., when .Mr. 'J'. W. K. Clarke, M..\.,
A.M.I.C.K., will read a paper on " Auto-mechanical .Stabihty, with
a description of a new Gyroscopic Apparatus" (which will be .shown
in action). Pro£ John Feny, F.II.S.1 of tiie Royal College ol

® ®

The Freadi Safety CompetWoa.

Following on several fil i a l atrld e p t i l»M!jt «w8tr e il iaftiBWiw
the Paris municipal authorities organised a ooupetlttDB wm die
olyctofe uuuiu^in g inventors of Mfety appliance* on aeropUnes.
Aftftgfthw IIS inrentois submitted devices cf one sort or another,
and sewn have been selected to share the priae asooqr of £tSf».
Hie tu iT'f'"^ entrants are M. Dontre, autonnuie stalffl^ dasiae ;
Owat "BUtfm, anind Indirstns I U. HerVien, e aseigenc; puadhole}
M. HafMl,

Science, one of the greatait aatiborities on the gyrosro]ic, will
preside.

The sixth meeting of the nrenent session will lie held at the- Kojra]
United Service Inuituiion, Whitehall, on Monday, Ajuil zolh, at
8.30 p.m., when Capt. C. IL Ley will read a pa|>er on " Aerial
Tojiography."

The seventh meeting of the present session will Ik- lield at the
koyal United Service Institution, Whitehall, on Thmsday,
.May loth, at 8.30 p.m., when .Mr. 1*. H. Bramwell will read a
paper on •<A«nnantfcai Reseaieh at tho Natkmal Phyiieal

LalKjratory."

Informal Meetings. — .Meciings m an iiiloimal naluie will lie
held at Ihe Society's ohiees, II, Adam Street. Adelphi, on Mondays
from 5 p.m.

The ncM informal meeting will lie held on MoDdny, April aand*
when the subject foi disi ussion win be the AtaiaqilMrioal
Conditions at llendon Aerodrome."

T. HUBBARD, SccraHMV-

device to prevent |>etrol tank explosions ; M. Dc table, automatic
and M. Wildeoi wikKj petrol valm to prevent flame

Istanl ttabSMrj M* OpemoUf

More EoMct fur Pcimrat Pflw. ^

Skvk&al mora c utifci have now twm Tcochrad far flic Pranot
ite« tn aatKhnmaafligiit arCaaooars de rATietle, aa tt ii
IfaAHMK. ibeentiaittsnow nwaber iiaand fiirtherentiiea
.wMte we a haJ siploMayaoaL TTie oom|icHtian will belwM m
June 3rd at the Paris Pare dts Princes cycle (

(/ TiGHT

Aful i3» 191^

Foreign Aviation News.

No Lottery for French National Ftmd.

Iw oonaecttoo witli the propoaal of the Marquis De Dion that a
ereat lottery should be organised for the benefit of the French
National Fund for the purchase of aeroplanes, the Minister of the
Isterior has informed the President of the fund that the Government
ttii beond to oppose such means of raising money even though it is
for a good aitd tueful object. lo view of the exiting lottery
regulauoni they euuM aee tlidbr way to attke any «« a »ptfPB » fa> the
preient caae.

Qma*CoaBtry Flying by French Military Aviators.

At the end of last week quite a large number of very fine cross-
ronnlry flights were made by various French military aviators. By
way of example, on the 5th inst., Cavalry Sergeant Hurard on a
Mmnce Farman made a first te"it for his superior oertificate over a
conise from Buc to Bonneval and ttack. Lieut. Fequant also on a
Farman machine started from Mailly Camp and flew to Bar Ic due
and Lieut. Kochette on a Deperdussin went from Foix to Pau land
ing at St. Gaudcns on the w.iy. On the previous day, Lieut.
Gottf]eton a Bl^iot went fiuiu Villacoublay to La Brayellc taking
a^bn. 40 mixa. for the trip. On Saturday last, he again made the
jouniey, tt^ time on a Deperdussin and the 240 kilometres were
covered in 2 hour.s 9 mins., also on Saturday, Lieut, de Coville on
a M. Farman biplane went from St. Cyr to .Mailly en Vexin with a
passenger and Lie\it. Prat made a first test for his military /(r^YC on
a 11. Karmaii m.-irhint- ovir a course from Kheims to Vitry le
Francois. Lieut. Cheutin on a M. Farman went from Bar le due
to Mhmqt*

Fivacb Navy and Aviation.

On Saturday last, Capt. Fatou, who has charge of the marine
aviation, paid a visit to the military flying ground at Rheims, and
after ittuMctii^ the haogais and eqiiipmeDt thetei went for a flight
m the Fwinw faipfane, pDoted by Naval-Lieiit. Foamier.

h»ng Flights at Pau.

On the 4th inst. at the Military Bleriot School at Pau, Capt.
Faure was flying for a couple of hours, sometimes attaining a height
of 2,500 metres. Sergeant-Major Didier also made a long fl^ht
practising for altitude, while Lieut. Garnier, by way of finishing nis
ooarse of in.struction flew for half .in hour. On the previous day
Cavalry Sergeam Veierstein covered 150 kiloni .. over llie course from
Ban to Magescq and bock, this counting as one of the tests for his
■opedor imtt. Seigeant Beattfa also flew fior an hoar.

Good Flights at Savary School.

At the Savary Military School at Chartres on the 4th inst.,
Reichert, the chief pilot, made three long flights of an hear liadl«
and FrnntT; with .1 p.issenger flew to Orleans and back.

A Sonimer ovit Paris.

On a Sommer monoplani% KbiiiBerling, on the 3rd inst., Hew
anx Pari*, and laiuied at Viooeiffiet, stutibig vom Issy. He retun^
to biy later in the day.

Kcqtf og 4M AftfUveimey.

Oirihe ist tut.* being the second annivetsary of his first crass-
oontiy vorage from Bnc to Orleans, Mr. Manrice Farman, accom-
aaaMfayScirnqnerflewtoCbartivBaadOil^^ a call

lor knob at Etanqies on the way back to Bog.

PmAm Stuts u Ajqtiaplane ScbooL

FouLonniie on the succe>s of the Curtiss hydro-aeroplane at
llonaoOi M. Paulhaii has returned to his headquarters at Juan-le-
nas, whare he is starting a school for marine aviation, as he
bdieves it is an ideal location, the bay being sheltered from rough
Weather, while there is a fine beach.

The Hydro aeroplanes or *' Aquaplanes" at Monaco.

Ai.THoiruii the comjKUtions finished on the last day of March,
several of the aiiuaplanes remained at Monaco, and were in great
detnand for taking up visitors who wished to see the motor- Ixiat
radne flx>m above. On the 4th inst., !■ ischer started from Monaco
to take M. Archdeacon to Genoa. He, however, had to fight his
Wl^ against the strong wind, and after 40 mins. in the .iir landed
at San Reno, as his petrol supply was getting low. He decided to
postpone the visit to Genoa, and lettmed to Moaaook t(q> M
only takiiig a quarter of an boor.

A Bet Won by " A<ji»plane.*

On Sunday Renaux, on hi^ Maurice Farman hydro-aeroplane
or aquaplane, won a bet of £So, by carrying a couple of
pasisengers from Monaco to Mcntone and back, flying .icro.ss the
Bay of Hercules and over Cap Martin, the double journey taking

43 B^iiittaa.

Flying Back to Headquarters.

By way of demonstrating the thoroughness of his training at the
Bleriot Military School at Etampes, Lieut. Sylvestre, on the 1st inst,
returned to his station at Poitiers, a trip of 275 kiloms., e» aeropleuu.
Leaving Etamjies at 7 a. m., he descended at Pontlevoy to rcplenidi
his petrol tank, .'Stopped for lunch at Liguil, and landed finally at
Poitiers at a quarter past five.

The Astra Biplane Returns to Viliacoublay.

A ITER having demonstrated the Astra biplane tefore the
military authorities ai Rheims, Labourct on the ^rj inst., set out to
fly it back to Viliacoublay. After being up for about two hours in
a fog which seemed to get thicker and thicker, Labourct came down
at Sczannes, where he decided to st.iy the night. The following
day he set off at six o'clock, and after an hour and a quarter's flying
laiuied at Vincennes, iirom where subsequently to making some
M^t> before the militaiy offions, be flew across to VillaeoaUay.

A Sommer Biplane at Nice.

On the 51I1 inst., Oliveres on a Sommer biplane, with C-omie de
Robillard ('osnac started from the California Aerodrome at Nice got
up to a height of 000 metres flew over to Mentone and returned tc
Mkj^ iRBQd: trip oec^^

Monaco Presents. A^maplaoe to French Navy.

As a result of the success of the (■oni|K.-tition for hydro-aero-
planes at Monaco, arrangements have been completed there for
the i)urchase of the winning Henry Karman machine jiiloted by
FLscher and its delivery to the French Navy. It is probable that if
a suitable opportunity occurs, Fischer will pilot the machine himself
from Monaco to Tonlon.

An Italian Commission fat Buc.

A nnrin ATioN of Italian military officers, comjirising Ca[)t.
Prandoni and Lieuts. Savoia and Cazzera visited Kuc on the
3rd inst. in order to witness some demonstrations in weight-lifting
with Maurice Farman machines. They saw a very good flight made
by Maiiri<-e Farman, the machine taking a load of 500 kilogs. and
getting iiti tiie ground very easily. .Afterwards Capt. PraodOTiwSS
carried for a long flight over the surroundini,' country.

The French Gordon-Bennett Eliminating Trials.

The Aero Club of France has decided that if it is necessary to
l\old eliminating trials for the Ciordoii-Bcnnett Race they will take
place between May 1st .and July Ifth, under llie same conditions as
last year, over a distance of 200 kiloms., the course to be 10 kiloms.
Rnnd.

Flying is Company on Deperdussins.

G. Bt7SS0\, Lacombe and Horie, each on a Deperdussin mono-
plane flew from Pau to Tarbes on Sunday last, in order to take j)art
in the military fete at the latter place. They returned to Pau on the
following day, and startiiv at two miniite intervals natcltod in
the same order.

Flnt Entries for die Gcsndl Prix.

E ic; 14 T entries have abeady been made for the Grand Prix of
the Aero Club of FrseDOs, The first five are Morane-Saulnier
«iHKifjaafei« i^^^'iaS^ tiuee aie DepetdnMins.

Tlie Next F.A.I. Conference.

The next meeting of the Federation Aeronautique Inter-
nationale will lie held at Vienna from the 19th lo 21st June, while the
commission, which is drawing up the International flying map, will
laiiBt two days earlier.

The Ac.C.F. Presidency.

As a result of a visit from a delegation com[)ose<l of members of
the committee and sub-committees of the Aero Club of France, M.
Cailletet has withdrawn his resignation and will remain as President.
.\fter holding that ofhce for seven years he firit be shOtdd Ktbc^ bot
could not resist the wishes of his friends.

Aviators In Motor Car Races.

It is not without interest to notice that of the drivers named to
take part. n the Grand J'nx n>o,or races of the Automobite Q^b rf
I-rance, a round dozen of them possess pilot-a\-iators' licences M
the Br,t,.h reprf.Mnt.uivcs, Harry Ferguson who will dr'ive «
Vauxhall.and Conway Jenkins who wUl steer an Arrol-lohnston.
are in this category. ««k»«i.

No Advertisements for French War Office.

A French Military authorities have taken « i>c step in

deciding that aeroplanes presented to the (.overnnieni must not
^ names which savour of advertising, and so far the decision does
J^^gena to h^e had any adverse effect upon the comrilniiu.n> m
raft««]raal Fund. The four Parisian news|ia[)ers which headed
We snbscripuon list have readily fallen in with the idea and the
three machines presented by the A/a/i,> will 1* known as the
• Patnc." " Republic " and " Democratie," ; those ^iven i.y the
/ouriiai wiU bear the names " Camot," " Kleber " and " M arceau :
i< f r 1 commemorate the Battles of " |em.ip|)e»,'

yahny " and " Marengo" ; while Gamine and Lieuts. l)c ilrailly
xad Sevelle will be remenbeKd by the three given by the /V/iV
/ournal.

The Berlin Circuit.

The flyinj; race round Berlin, which promises to Ix- ipiite an
important eveni has been fixed to take pkice on the 24lh and 2Sth
August next. The competitors will start from !ohanni«ihal and steer
liack to Johannisthal rv,; Schulzcndorf, Spandau, Pottsdam and
Telstow. I'lach coiupetinf; aeroplane will Ije re'Hiired to carry a
useful load of not less than iSokil.i^s., niade iipuf iwo men and
ballast. The Berlin Municipality has voted a sun: of ;{,2,srMi, ihe
Minister of War has ottered a prize of ;^50O, while the llerliii Aero
nautical Society, the German Aero Club, and the Kai»erlicliei AX.
have subscribed ;t 1,500 for the prize fund.

Crass-Country Flight in Germany.

On the 4tli insi., in ealm but exceedingly Gold weather. Vol-
muller successfully made the trip from Schnyeraingen to Bremen, a
distance of 1 75 kiloms.

A New German Society.

Under the Presidency of Prince Henry of Prussia, a meeting.'
was held in Berlin on the 4th inst., at which it was arranged to
Start a new organization, to be known as the Aviation Scientific

Society, and, as its name impUes, its Ubouis will be dcvote-d to the
scientuic and technical sides of aviation. The annual subicriptiun
has been fixed at ao marks.

The New Flytng Stations in Germany.

The reorganisation of the fuuitli .irm of the German army is
proceeding ajiace, and the station at Metz was opene<l on Wednesday
last with eight biplanes and six monoplanes, wnile Monday will see
dieinMc^intKm <rf tbut centre at Strasbuig with six bipUnes and b
sbaflar^inbirof BWActpiuies.

Military Competttleo for Italy.

Tiiic Italian Minister of War is organising a competition for
military aeroplanes built in Italy, although the motors may be of
foreign ronsirurtion. Foreign constructors U-inj; either represented or
having woiks in Italy, will thus lie able to (iinipric The machine
classed tirsi will be awarded a priic of /,4,ooo, while the
Government will ]iurchase live machines at a cost ot 1 0,000.

It is priilwble that the conii>elition. which in its general artanjjc-
ments will most likeh !«■ on sinulai lines to the I rench trials
recently lu'ld, will U- cairied mil 111 Ainil of next vimi i>n an
aermiiiiim- in llir Noilh oi It.ih , \ ioin.'.li ovilhiie ol llic
c<ini|K'tition is thai ih<' in.ichiiic slioiild iinike :i lli^'lil of kil<iiiis.
wiihoul kuidiiig, (.iriyni^ |Ms>eiij;er and piloi ol iiol less than ten
stone each anil u load of jjctrol weighing not less thiui 40 kilogs.
The ninimiint iqKed 1;^^ will be liokiloins.an hour.

A Fast Italian Monoplane.

AccDKiiiNC to a report from Milan, the new monoplane liuill
by the Caproni firm has proved very fast. Fitted with n 50-h.p.
Anr^ini engine, and testea over a S-kilom. course on the aSlh uU.,

it covered ji_f,o kilonis. in 3h. 5m. 30C.

Flying over Lake Lugano.

On a ttetnt monoplane on SUttunUy last Atfilio Mafliei made a
long flight over Lake Liigano and afterwards passed over (^lagnolo,
Mount St. Salvatore and the towns of Lugano and Baradico.

AvlMton lit Frcneh West Afrtta.

Thk (iovemor-General of I-rcnch West Africa is taking an
active part in the organisation ui an aviation centre at Dakar, Wctt
.■\frica. lie has bought two Henry Farman biplanes, and last
month M. Carles, flew between Bam bey and Dmr, a distance of
150 kilometres in two hours.

er-vtair' AT THV NANCY AVIATXOM FETE.— K fine natural grand stand. KuUing on his BMriet monopUne,
FLYlNb A I ino "'""^ Uridan «» a Henry Farman machine, are seen in flight.

333

Pott OlCiee and AvUtion.

When the estimates for the Tniied States I'ost Uttice were
publiibed tome gratihcation wa^ expressed in American aeronautic
circles at the inclusion of an item of $50,000 for aeronautic ezpeii-
isents. The item has, however, lieen Icnocked out in committee^
-IHld time appean to be little likelihood of it being put back.

SHuidaitf Ofl Co., Deaies Prize Rumotir.

An official (icnial has now l<Lcn issued by the Standard Oil Co.,
to the runioiir iliat tia-y are old-ring or intend to otler a prize of
;f 5,000 for a new type of internal comboMMQ (Ogilie Or tlirbdne
especially suitable lor aviation purix>ses.

AMDfiiaiiasCantfaband of War.

lTMmt$mtOoA that the refusal of the I'.S. Army Department
to penult d^vwy ^TP'rcnch acroolaiies to the Mexican rebels at El
Paso, and treatijig them n contraband of max, has been Kppwrcd by
President Taft.

A couple of Nieuporl monoplanes were seized by the Italian
Customs at Bellinzona Station last week on it leaking out that the
marhines were <r« rpitU tot Turkey*

V*t»l Accident to Rodg.>rs.

Althouoii only scanty details are as yet to hand it would
appear that the fatal accident to Galbndth Kodgers, who made a
DMae for himself by flying across the United States from New York
to OkUfoniia, was largely due to recklessness. He had been giving
wMbhion fl^tt at Long Beach, California, on the 4th i&st., and
hui been amnsiitf hi mw l f by ^ttgr'"g a flock of gulls by diving
into them. In toe last dive the machine apparently fiuled to
aoawer the controls and crashed to the beach loo ft. belowi The
pOot had his neck hnkea and must have been IdUed initantly.

In connection with the Gordon-Bennett race, which will
probably be held at Winnetka, just outside Chicago, next August
tiie lUiaois Aero Chib, which has the local arrai^emenU in hud,
pcepMM to hold a hig meeting at its aerodrome at Cicero, III. An
Mdeavonr is also bdSg nude to oiganise a eton^oonmty ctrcuit, to
be held after the IntMoattonal race. The tentative taaOs is fron
Chicago via Milwrakee, Omaha, Kansas Qty, St Louis,
Indianapolis, and SO back to the startii^ point, a distance of about
1,800 miles. B«t«raen these various does, it i» hoped to laiaea
pdae fund «r £ii,iioo.

VS. Army has a Curtiw jlidtlni.

Tksts were canied oat at Augusta, Ga., at the end of Mardt
with a Curtiss biplane buQt to meet the U.S. Army's requirements,

as detailed in a recent issue of Kl.ir.IIT. It went through the
endurance test easily with a flight of 2 hrs. 10 mins., and bettered
the speed requirements by 2A miles an hour. It wa.s dismantled for
transportation in 33 mins., and was re-assembled for (lying in
5S mins. Carrying a load of 450 Ibfi. and fuel for four hours'
tlighi, making a total weight of over 600 lbs., the machine climbed
1,000 ft. in 7 mins. The chassis proved capable of landing on
and starting from soft, musty, and ploughed ground. The madiine
is, of course, fitted with a Curtiss dual control, enablit^ either
oonpnt to take diarge of it.

® ® ®

"fwo Good Flights by Mr. Cody.

On the 3rd itist., Ml. Cody made a couple of goo<i flights, in
OOe of them carrying M. liizion for a trip of ten miles, during wliicli
he dTop)>ed a number of handbills, advertising a charity concert.

the other Mr. Cody made a very fine circular iliglitt taking
Famhani, Alton, Guildford and Cambcrley.

Memorials to Ac fatte Hofi. C S. Rolls.

On Sunday last, L.ady Llangattock unveiled in I.langattock
Church, near Moumoulh, a marble memorial to her son, the Hon.
C S. Rolls, who was killed at Bournemouth on July 12th, 1910.
Meantime the splendid lifelike statue, which has been designed by
Mn. Scott for erection on the sea-froot, to commemorate thedouUe
crossing of the Channel by the Hon. C. S. RdUs, has aiitved at
Dover.

British Govern ment and Monoplane Constroetton.

A XHOtsmos in the House of Commons as to the attitude of the
Sritish Government as to the leccnt order of the French War Office
regarding flying on monoplanes, (kew ftom CoL Seely the information
^ no spooiia order had been iasued by the Sntidi Wsr Office hot
tiie n ece — t y action was being taken.

AnciL 13, 1912.

THE SERLIN AERONAUHC ElUilBITION.

VVhrn the doors of the Aeronautical SditbitiiHi at B^i^ mvte
opened on Wednesday of last week, it was at once evident the
great change which has come over Germany in the last year or so.
At the Frankfort Exhibition in 1909, the lighter than air craft had
matters all their own way, and aeroplanes were conspicuous by their
dncBo^ btt ie^ ^ W^emt Shew th« aeroplane is in the

aseendancyi rad t&taa^. taaSt M0iems are represented by a few
models and accessories. As was fitting, the E^Aibition was opened
by H.H. Prince Hennr of Prussia, who is one of the few Royalties
to hold a pilot aviator^ licenee.

Prominent among the exhibits are several Albatross biplanes,
which in general appearance are on Breguet lines with the wings
'itinnged a la Etrich, while a number of Rumpler-Taube monoplanes,
one of which is equipped with a completely enclosed cab for the
pilot, somewhat in appearance like Che new Avro military ty|je,
while another titled with two propellers also attracted a good deal of
notice. The Euler firm are represented by a couple of biplanes and
a tripiane, the latter equippoi with floats for use over water. The
German Wright firm exhibit one of their latest biplanes fitted with a
sii^le propeller instead of two as is the usual practice. Of the
distinctly German machines there arc on view Aviatik biplanes, and
also a biplane designed by Buchner and built by a new firm. As
well as Harlan, Coedecker, l)ornt;i, H.iefelin and Ganida mono-
planes, the latter machine having c\irved wings. Prince Sigismund
also shows his dragon fly monoplane. .Mtogeiher there are to be
seen in the u.vhibition, which is lx;ing held in the Zoological
(laidens, seventeen monoplanes, nine biplane^ and one tripiane,
besides, of course, a large collection of acressories and models, 6k:c.

® ® ® ®

Airship News.

The State of the BMiisfa Dirigibles

Col. Sicely questioned in Parliament as to the present condition
of the Army dirigibles and whether thev could be sailed over London,
said there were two air&hips available for service. Thn mwe
[provided with crews who could and do navigate them fhm SiM to
time. They were capable of making extensive flights but tb^'*lpre
fully engaged in training officers and men, and he did 1^ thlbiik
banging them to London (so that the puUic might see them), was
#e best way to achieve that object.

A P^rseval Dlrigfible !cr Japan.

AccuXDisr. to advices from Berlin, the Japanese Goveruiueut
has purchased the " Faisend Xlllj" wfaich is now tmdergoii^ its

trials at liitterfeld.

Long Voyages With " Capitalne Ferber."

On the 3rd inst., the dirigible "(.'a|)iiaine Kerber" left Issy
and was cruising over I'aris for about au hour. ( )n the following
day it was out for tw>) hour>, this time passing tiver Melun,
I- ontainebleau, Coulomraiers, Corlx'il, and Longjumeau. Another
long trip was made on Saturday last, this time lo the west of Paris,
the airship having a ciew of ten persons on board.

Two Zeppelins Heef itt Mannheim.

|IL^»m»i| Ml|K! isivilege of seeing the two latest Zeppelin
diti^aies atdnt^ ove^iead cm the 4th inst. The " Victoria Louise "
with e%fat passengers started from Frankfort at a quarter past ten,
and the " Schwaben *' with nine passengers on board left Baden

Baden at ten o'clock. The two airships met at Mannheim at
ten minutes past ten, and after cruising over the city for half an hour
they went off in thy direction of I leidelbcrg. The " Victoria Louise"
returned to Frankfon at half past OBK, WsA the "Si^mten"

returned to Hadcn l.iifi in the day.

Zeppelins for German Navy.

1' i;OM lierlin it is rei>orted that the German \aval autliorilies
are in negotiation with the /ejipelin Co. lor the delivery wiiliin the
next three years of five Zeppelin airships of improved " Schwatx-'n "
lyjie. It is also stated that the designs of several battleships are to
be altered to ])ermit of them carrying a dirigibk:, while they are also
to be fitted with platforms to permit of aeroplanes ascending from
and descending on to them.

® ® ® ®
17,S. Imports snd Experts.

DURI.NG the last six months of 1911, thirteen aeroplanes,
valued at $48,644, were imported, while sixteen machines, valued
at $54,004, of American manufacture, were sent out of the United
States. Two foreign-built machines, valued at $9,755, were ex-
ported, while there were ten machines in warehoiiae (in. bond),
their total value being $30,873.

334

April 13, 19M

Contetad by V.

Ao Entirely New Recotd.

On March 31st last, etriy in the moniiiu; (about 7 a.m.),
Mt. H. H. Groves (of the Blackheath Aera Chb) was mcceufnl
m setting up an entirely new Model record, and one which if we
are not much mistaken, will have some far-reaching; consequences W
far as models are concerned, at least. Tlu- rei-ord was made with a
steam-driven model (up to then untried in actual flight), of a tome-
whai similar design to that recently illustrated in Flight, but fitted
with a mi)rc powerful, or, to speak more rorrectly, a more lasting
generating power plant, :.r-., one hnviiic a longer duration.

Mr. droves wriit-s as fullows: " Tht- weather was just good
enough [to risk trying it] and no more. I was unable 10 let the
engine have more than ih-oi. of water [owing to ground

JOHNSON, MA.

New Cross, S.K. ; as well as a policeman who.sc address is known,
aiKl a passing sfx^ctalor whose address was not taken.

Mr. A. B. Clark forwards us the following ai-ixmiit : " I ani*ed
on the ground about 6.10 a.m., ami found Mr. drnvr^ pre|mring his
model. The tirst flight was as follows: " Taxied " about ao yards,
and then rose very steadily to about 15 ft., and Hew approximately
150 yards. The next [i.e., the third adrmpl] (light was a short one,
a aharp circle to the left. The third flight [i.t., the fourth trial]
commenced after a mn of 8 to 10 ft., directly facing the wind— now
blowing 16 to iS m.p.h., the model starting to disab at a very good
angle— fiuter than Hamd 00 his 50-h.p. Goone-BMriot— iunl ft
KvciMd ataaat lao ft. It htd Hm tnmlltd mmm ijo jnidc tef»
the winti, after wfaidt it taimed down i»iiid, and anaadot at a gaod
altitude, and finished u|> 220 yards away from (he start, so that ft
had travelled something like 500 to 5ao yards altogether, i,*,, IJO
twice plus 330. It finished up with the finest vo/ />/,mi I hare evar
seen except on one occasion. Mr. Groves is to be congratulated on
the lesulu obtained." [A sentiment wliich we heartily endoiae.]

Mr. W. R. Haloan writes : " I have read the enclosed Iett« by

' SO YftPlO^i

AAr. H* H. CiOTcs' ateani'dciven model in loll flight
Noltee At fine faanlctiig ezlilbitcd bf ibt machln*.

conditions ; the full load is 4 oz.]. The first flight was perfectly
satisfactory, the machine leaving the ground after a run of about
12 to 15 yards, then rising gradually to some 12 to 15 ft. and
then slowly falling in an accelerated glide as the pro|ieller thrust
fell off and landing perfectly with the engine still running slowly ;
nothing like full pressure had been used in this flight — which partook
of the nature of a preliniinary chararli r.

The length of actual flight was atmut 1^0 yariK. Tin- next run
proved a failure, the engine not having lieen given siiftiricnt
pressure, and the model finally stuck in the grass. The third attempt
was coiiijiletely suceessful, tlie model rising in alwut 4 to 6 yards
and executing a circ le of alxml 50 yards r.adiuN f/.r . , a flight of some-
what over 150 yards), banked well during flight [see illustration] and
finally landed quite .safely, still Uinked to angle of about 30 degrees.
The wind was now getting up, but I thought I would chance one
more flight with li^-oz. of water [amount of benr.olinc used I^-or.. j.
'I'hc engine thi.t time was given more pressure — the valve being
opened fiiU — with the result that the model rose after a ran of 8 to
12 ft. only, £scing the wind, and mounted steadily up to about
100 ft., in IS to 20 sees., and made a flight 220 yards from the
starting poisi. Since the medd &ced the wrad toftart wi^^ and
made at least smne 50 3raidB headway previous to tnmfaig— taking
all this into aocoant this means, at least, 350 to 370 yards.

The total weight of the model indnding ozs. of water and
li OSS. of benzoline was 3 lbs. II oss. The dimbing was all Oat
ooold be desired. The engine and propeDermakeanoisaJiMtUet
a fidl-sized machine in the air.

In addition to the photograph which we publish, Mr. Groves
forwarded another (which, unfortunately, will not bear reproduction),
taken when the moidel was high up, from this photo, combined with
tlie focal lecygth of lus lens and certain well-known properties of
light, he deduces the height as not less than too feet, a result with
s^ch we quite agree. The actual photo reproduced was taken
during the third trial (the circular flight). Exptjsure, t.'.it sec.
Time of day, 7 a.m. Stop. F. 11. Imperial special rapid plate.

The following, beside-. Mr. Groves and hi> brother in-law were
also witnesses of these flights: Mr. A. U. Clark— a well-known
aeromodellist — hon. sec. Blackheath .\ero Club; Mr. \V. R.
Halmaa (Glanmire, 00. Gvk) ; Mr. G. Brown, 20, Vance Street,

]6klOC PROM ABOUtW) I

H H

Mr. Clark fv Mr. H. H. Groves msdel, whicb 'Is eonwt fa

detail, and I ran rorrohoratc the same."

Naturally, |ici.soi}ally speaking, we are deeply interested in
results, the ty|)e of plant lieing one which we have advocated for some
considerable time, and one wiifi which we .are [icrsonally experimenting
with the most successful results so far as all Iietich tests are ronccrncd.
Only on March 30th (with the plant already referred to in these
columns) a thrust of no less than 2 lb. iootis. was oblained, sufficient,
according to Mr. Ciroves' results, to launch ami fly a S lb. miMlcl,
whereas the one which it is destined tii fly will weigh but slightly
more than three. In the flash-boiler ty|>e we have ample jKiwer,
and we are fully convinced now that it can lie successfully
applied to much smaller models weighing, not 3 to 4 lbs., but
I lb. only, or even less. .At the same lime, the reader must not
draw the erroneous conclusion that we consider this tyjie of power
plant, as yet, to lie jiosscssc<l of a i< .illy high degree of ef&cicnqr
— roughly speaking, we should put it on a par with the wfahar
motor previous to the introduction of lubrication.

One cannot help contrasting the results obtained with oa. of
water and li oc. of bensMine, total ti ot., and a marhine
wdf^iing 3 lbs. it oc, with what the mc watafat of rabbtr, t.0.t
af oa., could do with the same maehhiet wdgnt of rahfaar < total
wgeht of machine :: 11 : 236, i.;., approximately, I : 21.

"nie weight of the material necessary to develop or set free the
energy contained in the benzoline, dec., is considerable, being in
this tiarticular cas<^ about I lb. 10 os., whereas in the case of rubber
all tnat is required is the stick or motor rod. The entire model
was designed and constructed throughout by Mr. Groves.

The greatest difliculty in connection with power.driven models is
a suitable ground on which to try them to their faW capacity with any
feeling of safety ; it is not so much a question of bad landing, as <rf
trees or other obstacles ; also pools of water or small lakes into
which the model might fall. It is all very well to say set the
rudder or warp the wings so that the model will circle, in the case of
three or four minutes' flight ; even on a comparatively siicaking calm
day, there is the question of drift to be considered, and if their is
anything nasty knocking about the motiel is sure to find it. Another
half-an-ounce of water only in .Mr. Groves' last ad hast ffij^ 1
liave landed his model in serious difficulties.

SS5

PROGRESS OF FLIGHT

Notes regarding Clnbs must reach the Editor of Flight, 44, St.

MOOIL CLUBS*
Blrmini^mHbrfd AezDaab(Secs., tU dM8AM,G. H. WOOD,
S, FsBOBUCK Road, Edobastok).
At the meeting at the Bell Iim, ceveiad dteMi«B> took |taee,
tbe chief beiis " aeroplane abreMes." Mr. li. Yiiifi, Ifr. Sia^erljr
and Miss D. Wood were elected as new members.

At the mactice last week-end the most proniinent were "Mews.
I^kle, Wilde, Mason, Rogers, Lunn, Wood and West.
At Coventrj' the contest was abandoned owing to the gale which
■ was blowing. For all that, however, Mr. E. Tiykle obtained a
fl^ht of over 700 yards, and Mr. G. Haddon Wood 660 yards. The

meaibers were then entertained to a tea mul ;\ hiphly i'n|oy:ible day
waa6nished with a peep throuch the sights of ( n%Li]i!\.

Upon Ihc question of iiuer club coDtCFts, it was (Jecided tliat if
kome influential gcntlcniau tould iiui lie induced to put uy a cup or
shield, all the clubs should be asked to subscribe together 101 one <oi
oompetidofi anoneit the dabcj

ttaekbcath Acfo Club (Hon. S«e., A. E. Woollaed, 48, Hafton
ROAD, Cattokd, S.E.).

At Grove Park on Friday, Mr. Brown's " Fearless" biplane
made a flight of 47 tecs, duration. Mr. KfjclstaK ohtained his 2nd
class certificate with a flight of 210 yards. Messrs. Clark and
Jarvis also jiresent with models.

On Saturday, Mr. A. B. Clark's 2^-01. "Victors" flew distances
of 64S and 63s yards, Mr. Brown's biplane 476 yards, and
Mr. Morris' .single stick model 375 yards, thus obtaining his 2iul
class certificate; he also obtained a duration of 44 sees. It will
be roDonibercd that these durations are attempts to win the
W.ll.t prize model. Mesin. Wodllaird, Jams, Bailey, and
EgeKtad also flying.

At Blacklicalh, .Mr. J. II. Dullittlc made a flifjht Listing
75 sti^., which is a cliil' record ; the previous best was bi sees., by
Air. A. 1!. Clark. Mr. !• . Whitwoilh, with a I 1 I'-o model,
obtained a duration of .] ; lcs. Mr. K. Hainan, with an "A"
frame, .^49 yards.

Next wecL end, llyini; will lake place at Grove I'ark ; the Lee
groiinij will not be available for flight again for some time.

JBristol Model Flying (Sec, R. V. Tivy, 3, Royal York

CuKsci'.NT, Clifton).

Dt'KATioN competition on April 6th. Prizes (pair of pro-
pellers presented by Mr. R. M. Haines) won by .M;. Mixire,
duration 20 and 1 8 sees, in hnwlinc; calc ; I-I-2I' model wiili flni
plane and slight "vce."

M ecfing to-tlay (.S;iturtla\" > at '] p.m., at Sea Walls. Trize (pair
of laniinated jir(i|>i-l]ersi fur lirst mcxiel lo rise from ground at)d fly
too yard.s, may be competed for ; weight must exceed 6 ozs.

Ganisborouitb and District Aeroplane Sec (18, Church St.)

On April iSth Messrs. V. ]. Wright, ]. E. Dickinson and C. C.
All port will give exhibition flights in the Pleasure (Irounds at
Skegness, and it is hoped this will lead to forming a club there, the
first to be formed in Lincolnshire.

Ml. C. C. Allnort has been givine a number of exhibition flights
«tWpodliaII %r * -*

C««tBtiT Amo^iw BoUrflog Sod#i<r iSb&ii J* Sea^cmom,
92, KnicwTON Road, Eaklsdom).
Thb sew commodioDS wxkahop, situated in Godlva Street,
Is a large yard with a fiiirly lu^e piece of ground for gliding,
tuning up models, and erecting glider, &c. Members and others
are invited to pay a visit on April 12th at 3 p.m. Aero clubs in the
)Udland«i v^illiDg to djbtqiss toe' advitability of amuiging inter-chib
' *^ \ pwue commwnicaite witb the Secretary.

. .and Dtotrict Aero Club (158, High Street).
; Ok . Good Friday a gale was blowing, and the competition
wai pMtponed until April aoth. Messrs. Bell, Rodent, P. flart,
#04 C. Smither made good flights, Mr. C. Smither getting a flight
tt 1,135 ft., and the Secretary a flight of 1,39^ ft. These flights
were measnied in a stiaight Ime from tlw starting-point, and the
n^efa were bwiidied against the wind, and tid a bud
betBte twnhig. On Saturday, Mr. Pavely Obtained a flight tt
sc- -... .iT>,l •ht-rcfore holds Club's record.

taling and District Aero Club (Sec., B. J. KiKCHNER,
It Queen's Gardens, Eai inc., W.).

Ok Good Friday, Mr. L. Koche was tlying a 0-1-1-2 mcKlel, on
one occasioa getting 1,080 ft. the club distance record. I. Pratt
abo flew. On Saturday, L. Rodie, A. Houlberg, Chilcott,
BMdung, G. Peanoa, Sumders, Margetson and Pratt were flying.
• CnSbOtt used both 1-1-0-2 P and O-i-i-a P models and obtained
food fl^^ as alK> did L. R«dK. G. Beechmg and G.

competition.s :
Giiius, with

Officer, and
May.

April 15, 1912,

ABOUT TH£ COUNTRY.

, Martin's Lane, London, W.C., by first post Tuesday at latest.

Pear.son who got to good heights with their models, while Sanders-
was testing a new model. A. Houlberg broke the clubVdistance
KOOld, made the previous day, with distances of i,3^ift, and

I, 444 ft., the latter being accordingly the record.
Flying ai Greenford Saturday.

Hackney and District Aero Club (Sec, B. H. Longstaffk,
47, JENNER Koad, Stoke Newington, N.).
The following arc the winners of the Easter
steering and si.ibility, P. Gittus; duration, P.
30 sees. ; altitude, .Mr. Hill. The prizes, consisting of planes,
''iisr/iig,:-, |irupellers, &r., will be distributed at S[:orsley Hall
meeting on Friday. Mr. Levin wa^ testing his hydro plane on the
River Lea duiing the afternoon, hi.s machine, a Siagg-Smitb
biplane, attracting large crowds of .spectators,

Paddington and Districts Aero Club (Sec, W. E. EVAWs, 133.

Buchanan Gardens, IIarlesiien).

CoM.Nin I KK passed rule that models u>ed in club certifiojlte
trials, 1st and 2n(l class, must be constructed throughout by the
competitor. \V. Lvans is the first meiiiber lo gain a club certiticale,
qualifying for the 2nd class with Jioj secs. .and 640 feet in separate
nights. In his duralitm lest he covered about 750 feet straight, but
thi.s did not count. The following members ipialit'ied fr)r duration
part of 2nd class certificate : \\ . Jackson, 37 sees., and C. Dutton,
2S sees. Other durations were C. Levy 46 .sees. ; H. Weston 39, 37
and 2Sr sees. Woolky's rise-off-ground model llew well. Wind
was very treacherous at times and resulted in a complete snia-h of

II. Ilurlin's ])r(>mising model.

Saturday, April Ijlh, Kite and Model Aeroplane Association trials
at Parkside at 3 p.m.

New members elected : l\. Kvans (age 10), T.
K. Silent.

Retgate, Redhill and District Aero Club (Sec, II. V.
4, I ONI ION Road, Keigate).

On Wednesday, last week, several members were out at 6 a.m.,
and in the afternoon txperimeiils were made wiin Messrs. Cox'
6-ft. kite, carrying the club banner. Sunday morning, May, Lewi.s.
and Norton weie (lying, Mr. I.cides obtaining 331 yaids with
" Almono," and Mr. May at Keigate Heath 325 yards and 48
.sees, duration. In the evening Norton got 27S yards with mono-
plane, May 5<S sees, duration. Monday heavy winds. Osborne,
.May and Cox obtained (lights of 100 to 175 yards. The Committee
ho()e to biiiig the competitions on again on Saturday week at Earls-
wood. Mying as usual on the clubground on Saturday ( to-day )at 2.30.

Salisbury Model A?ro Club (Sec, E. M. Leak, Viciokia

Cot 1 EK KeioMs, Butcher Row).

On Wednesday week, at Wilton Koad, Sperring obtained 55S ft.
Lear obtained his 2nd cla.ss certificate with a flight of 502 ft., and
also made fuither llights of 484 ft. and 438 ft. Bcsent with 3i-07..
mcxiel ii!>iained 472 ft. (28 sees, duration) and 365 ft. This model
rose to a height of about 90 ft. O. F. Noyes, "tuning up" model,
obtained 250 ft. No flying last Saturday owing to high wind.

The clul) wishes to tender its best thanks to Mr. E. J. Taunton,
who has kindly pbued his magnificeat field at the di^osal of the
dnb members.

Easter flying attracted a good deal of outside attention. On
Good Friday morning, at Wilton Road, Sperring obtained distances
of 84D ft. and 900 ft. with 4k». machine ; Robinson obtained 450 ft.,
and Besent 375 ft. The bad weather debarred competitors from
outlying districts, and only three entries were made : Sperring^
Robinson, and Besent. Sperring won the los. 6d. worth of modd
accessories with a flight of 518 ft. in 25 sees, duration. The
fecretaiy (whose S-ox. machine was too heavy for competition) gave
some good exhibition fl^ft^ ine occasion obtaining 6qo ft.,
absolutely straight flight.

General meeting at headquarters on .April ifith, at 7.30.

Scottish Ae.S. Model Aero Club^6, McLiii i.AN Street, Govan).

A HBBTIN6 of iiieni1>ers will be held in the Institute, Elmbank
Qescent, Glasgow. The summer programme is now being made
Wt and suggestions from members will be thankfully received by
toe committee. On Saturday, April 20th, a competition for the
_ ! piiae irfii be lt^«t Barrhead Aerodrome,
events : dtitibiee and duration ; flying to commence at 3 p.m.

Sheffield Model Aero Club (Hon. Sec C. F. W. Cin>woKTH»

35, Pi;nriiy.n Road, Shekkiei.d).

Ou iNO to the boisterous weather Ea.ster Monday, the com-
petition was abandoned until Whit- Monday, when the Colver Cup,
for self-rising model aeroplanes, not under 4 oz., will be competed
for for the first drae, Mr. E. W. Colver has now decided to defray
the w^e oott of'tlM cap, inrthidii^ eagaenBg t£ sane, jriinth, ftc

AniL 13, t9ts.

Shjsppey Model Aero Qub (Sec., G. G. Harris, 40, Wo(H>

Street, Sheerskss).

I- I'l l. Ell and Go<xlhall during the week have both put up
flights ,-x(VL(iing 500 ft. G. Harris, with his rise-fiom-ground
model from W.H.C. parts, was also successful, and he obtained
43 sees, dur.ition witli liis i>- 1-1-2 P type modd. Meeting at
Norlands Marine Parade on Sabudajr, ipk um. Will firms
fiirmid cMBkigngs laemten' ne.

Stair StaM ud DiMitt Kilt and Model Am QUb (Hon.
Sec, O. HA]fn.TON, Joisr., Oi* Stbatvokd).

Owing to the boisteroos nature of the wind whidi at times wai^
blowing fiilly forty miles an hour, it' was decided to postpone the
Members' competitions till Satndiqr, April 13th ; bat so as not to
disappoint the spectators wiio had asaemBIed to see some flyii^, it
was decided to hold the Juniors' open event, in which three came to
the judge '.s ixist, these being Master Edgar Toombti HontW MOOK
and P&Xiias JkoKn. Anrie when msasaced were as follows t—
ToMDM, jr { mmmi 90*- Marks bong given for angle, stability,

® ®

strength of construction and coUapsibitiiy, the winner scored the
maximum of 40, while Moore SGOied 36 marks, louiig on ktaUility
and ani;lc. IiMhe open event, in addltioa IB tht gnaiaalMd prtK,
Mr. Brown kindly added doe of hk ktet viMl IM Midi
for juvenile dying.
Ummhett^ meeting 00 Thursday, April itth, eaoal tiaw.

SCHOOL AERO CLUB.
SoutbKStc County School Ae.C.( S4, lio w es R d. , TALMKa'sGKEKN ).

At duration comjietiuon on April 3rd, whi'ii all the machine*
were designed and constructed throughout by members, about
a dozen models were eiitcuil, tin- longest lligiit Uiiig ("if. sees.,
by E. K. liiown's 2joz. "tail-behind" model; and H''**!
K. K. Marsh, 41 sees. ; li. Ellinghaus, 3rd, 39I *ecs. Other
good flights were put up by Bartlett (36 sees.), Radottee, Shnilock,
and Petty. Mr. Pamli, dab pmidMM. Ifdodly wdw K aol f the
duties of timekeeper.

Flying, during tlie nntioit, at Powt* Lmm, od TneMhy uA
Friday afternoons.

® ®

CORRESPONDCNCB.

7Xc mamt ana tuUress tf tke writir {tut ueeissariiy ftr fnilieatien) mm in tastt tuMmUmy Utitrt inhiuM fur itutrlim,

»r €0$$tmmmg qturitt.

Flight Terminology.
{ZS34] Vour correspondent 1522 has raised r.illici .111 inii-resting
point under this heading: dn yoii not think, hnwevei, ihat it is
.better to keep on with tin- system of calling ■.-.uli new

machine, or distinctive fcatuic, after the name of its originator?
For instance, when one mentions a machine of the Goupy type,
you know the main planes are staggered. Farmon-type signifies
the biplane with a forward elevator and a lifting taiL Avro-typc,
the biplane with a tabular body and the engine in front. Nieuport,
the deep body «iA AM cid«k Bi^ptBt, we bipiue with only the
forward sUntt beMlictt tlie niilli plUM*. It icMOd be a thousand
mties if the names of the ptooeen wlio have faasdOBod tiM nrioos
features were allowed to be dropped.

The most siliii^>le name for hydro-aeroplane is undoubtedly
bydroplaiie, but as this already has a meaning, I do not think
one can beat your correspondent's suggestion, aquaplane, for it is
«asy to say and easy to lemember.

Koyal Aero Club. Sans Culottb.

Pricei of Aeroplanes Wanted.

[1535] I should be very much obliged if you could inform me,
cither privatielj or through the columns of your excellent p^ier,
where lean get ft catalogue or price list of some kind, giving the
«ost or amKOimiiatecoatflf die leading makes of aeioplaMS of the
da;^. AdvenStniHiii^ *S8^ tp' <>>» aofis^ie^imt \iMag m
thissoore.

MddaVale. — ^ "MoowAMP."
Military Airships.

{1526] With reference to -Mr. V . T. jane's letter No. IS16,
commenting upon Lieut. C. M. Waterlow's paper, I should like
to point out that he has mentioned the " Gamma " as being unique
in having swivelling propellers. This is somewhat incorrect, as the
system of altering the angles of propellers was employed by me at
Cuiiiif long before the " Gamma " was built. It appears that
Mr. Jane is not referrii^ exclusively to military craft, as he has
mentKmed the p r o posed American dxn^fale '* Rekar," otherwiie hit
usmnption wonld Ittve been coneet*

E. T. Wiuixjws.

Helicopters and Insect Fliirht.

[1527] I have just finished reading Mr. Bertinian's very in-
teresting lKX>k on iIr- I'rincipits oj Flight, I have no fault to find
with his deiinitioii of a helicopter, but 1 must, most respectfully,
object to his statement, on page 18, that my theory of insect flight,
"Fundamentally .... puts some insects in the helicopter dass."

Mr. Berriman, obviously, has never read my artide on the vortez
principles of flight, which appeared in FUGHT last Tune, or he
would have leoopu^ed that that prindple, or " the«iqr*- is ^ vlty
converse of ^ hdicopter principle in every partiodir. I lupre
stniUed insect flight for the past 17 years without discovering the
«xisleiice of anything in the remotest degree resembling the
hdicopter or screw propeller. The far-fetched hypothesis of the
" Figure-of-eight," put forward by M. Marey some 44 years ago,
was probably at the back of Mr. Berriman's mind. But this
hypothesis never got within measurable distanne of theory, to say
nothing of fact, it could be shown that a " Fignre-of-eight " path
■would give lifting power to a wing the application of such lifters to
4ia insect's would, of oonsse, place that insea in the position of a

This is one of the 1 numerous

liftci, but it is an
II. It requires the

helicopter — it would be unable lo tly
f.ital objections to the Man y hy|>iitlii-sis.

The helicopter is only ;i (ju.ililn-il sun ess a
utter failuif in icgaril to hori/.oni.il piogic

lifting force to be absolutely veilii .il, and to |>;iss through the centre
of gravity. If such a lifting force be inclinetl from the verticd it
will not give a horizonul motion to the body of the machine, bat
will itseU return to the vertical position, the body swinging alout the
centre of gravity to allow it to do so. If the lifting force |iaas
outside the centre of gmvi^ a oomple it ibnatd wfaion upseu the
machine.

In dl the hawk-moths, dear wings, bees, wasps, and flies that 1
have examined. Nature has pUced the centre of gravity some
distance to the rear of the point of susi>enslon from the wnigs, and
has not applied the lifting force in line with these two ])oints. She
deliberately creates a couple which if left unbalanced would cause
the insect to turn a backward somersault. By giving separate
support 10 the abdomen she creates a sei-on<l couple which counter-
acts the first. This is done by the cxp.iiision of thai |x>ition of the
air strc.im which is (iis( li.it^cd by the wnigs br iic.illi llu- Unly of the
iii^cv't. riic I1T liawk iiiotli, which has .1 vriy lonj; aUloiiicn, is,
indec-d, the proud possessor of a tail, spread out when the insect is
hovering in utilcr to preserve the horu.ontal petition Off the tndjT by
m;iking the most of the e\j).indiiig air currents.

Now that the lifting aiKl pro|ielling jMiwer of a full siied " Vortex
propellei,'' built and tested at a large engineering works, has lieen
proved lo U- .ill tli.it w:is cl.iiined for it, there is no longer any doubt
as to the ulliiii.ile success of I lie iiiiichine wliicli lias lieen designed lo
emulate the flight of these insects. j 1'. A. l)RiN(i.

[The helicopter class, in " I'rinciples of I light," has lalhei an
indefinite boundary. Any mechanism, diurnal or mechanical, stated
to be of a rotary character and capable of supporting itself at a fixed
point in space thereby is induded therein for want of further
categories. Again, it is important to bear in mind that " P ri ndplet
of FlKht " is an elemenury treatise faeaed oo the Newtonian OMtaod
(see Flight Mannal No. i) wbidi eseentially regards all aeio-
djfiiamic support as the result of the reaction derived ftooi
iwdnttining a discharge of air throM|fa a kaowa tad detMniaalt
area. The well-known practied Umiuitions of dlit ifaMl do aot
detract from its nfaw asa first line of tlionght ftrMdwiib-^^]

Bkyd* OHiar.
[1538] Is it potdble to fit smaQ pliaai lo an ordinary pedal eyele
to use same as a glider? If to, how large Wodd the planes need te
be, and what speed would have to be attained in order that the
machine codd leave the ground i* My machine is geared to 94, and
is an ordinary roadster. I should also like tQ Icoow the best meth od
of fixing the piaaet to dw frame of tfae ejtclo.

Norfolk. F1.YIM0 Fox.

[A pedd bicycle fitted widi wingi mk^ eoooeivably be ridden
fast enotigh to make it jump off the ground, but gliding is limited by
the extent to which the force of gravity can be utilised for propuUion
and therefore a glide can only take place down hill. It would be
unnecessarily dangerous to practise gUding with a m.-ichine such as
is proposed, because it is feasible to adopt a better and safer method
of practising in moderate steady winds, as the Wright brothers did
when they began. Gliding of this sort does not imohre
velocities over the gtoand, and widi rtaaoaaUe em IkHn it
danger. — Ed.]

33?

&VR08COPES ON AEROPLANES.

Of all simple medianisms, the gyroscope is perhaps the most
fascinating thai man hav ever invented. As a toy it amuses, and as
an in.striimcnt it K"^'!'^ irna^'.iiiation in a way that scarcely any-
ttungof a Minilar oharaclLT svirpasscs. Often it h.is been suggested
that the gyroscope Wdulil form an appropriate means nf .stabilizinjj
aa aeroplane, and tin subject i> about to be laid oi>en for di-scussion
fajrthe Aeronautical Sot iety , before which body Mr. T. W. K. Clarke
is to lead a paper next Monday evening at the Royal Society of
Arte. Prof. John Peny, F.R.S. of the Royal College of Science,
one of the greatest anthorities on the gyroscope, will preside.
In coUaboratioD with Mr. V. E. Johnson, Mr. Clarke has
■mini a particular system in vhich the gyroscope can be applied
■to the s tahi li sin f af wirog lg w i t jgril^^^^^ and daKiqp^ of

tUsapparatiu wBtbeiiieainitaatoffi^ matter of tile iwfM*

Owing to the importance cf the subject generally and the especial
interest that attaches to a discussion on the possibilities of a specific
application of the principle as illustrated by an actual apparatus, the
occasion is likely to give rise to one of the best meetings that the
Aeronautical Society has yet held, and those of our readers who are
members would be well advised to make a note of the: time and
.place in order that they may not forget to attend.

® ® ® ®

PROGRESS AT THE EWEN SCHOOL.

Cn.M iNciNc ihe progression that has marked his operations since
'he eslalilished his flying school at Hcndon, Mr. W. H. Kwen has
within the last week completed negotiations for the acquirement of
the sole agency of Caiidron aeroplanes — monoplane, biplane, and
hy<h<i-.-ieri)plani — for (■real Britain and the Colonies. So many
pupils has his .•■chool attracted that something more than the pro-
"Vision of his two present monoplanes, and the one he has now
nnder construction, became necessary. His choice seems to us a
happy one, for the little Caudron biplane, is by virtue of the
suppleness of its supporting surfaces, an eminently easy machine to
handle in a wind. P'urther, from the point of view of school work,
it is quite an inexpensive machine to construct, so that pupils need
scarcely fear being presented with lengthy bills of breakages. The
•monoplaDe is, too, quite an excellent Uttle machine, we believe,
being MBipIe and ao efficient that with a 35 h.p. Y-type Anapd
ootor it can maintain a speed of something like 65 nules iii liOiit,
As a single-seater racer, inexpensive in first cost and maintenance, it
should appeal to the woold-be competition entrant. As Cor
the hydro<aeroplanes, the itpmestatiTe at the Mtmaco meeting
showed up well, consideiiqg diat that particular machine was
"faked up" from a very old cetluk, and other out of date
odds and mds from the Caudron works. Even then it
parted company with the water in the remarkably short time of 1 1
sees. We understand that the Caudron firm hold an important
.patent relating to hydro-aeroplane undercarriages of the combined
wheel and float type, on the disposition of the wheels to the rear of
the floats. Regarding the ability of the Caudron biplane to weather
a strong wind, on the occasion of the visit of Mr. E wen and his
friend Mr. A. M. Ramsay, of the Grahame- White school, to the
Caudron works at Crotoy, M. Caudron brought out his 35-h.p.
Y-lype Anzani biplane, late on in the day when a wind ftom 25 to
30 miles an hour was blowing. That he should attempt to fly such
a low-]X)wered machine in such a relatively high wind rather
surprised the English visitors, in fact the aslonishment shown by
them at M . Caudron's performance was the source of much amusement
•for the works stafl there. Facing up to wind the machine left the
ground after a run of al>out lo feet, and in the air did not rock
bodily from side in side as many machines incline to in showing
their resentment of being tlown under unfavourabk- wealhoi condi-
tions. All that was noticeable was a constant quivering of the wide
flexible trailing edge. In bringing 1 he machine to earth it quickly
came to a standstill, and as it was just being blown backwards
owing to the force of the Wind, M. Caudron switched on bis motor
•again, and rose clear of the gtomid afanatt a* If lite WMchiite had
been fitted for direct lifL

9 ® ® 9

The Royal Fl|iflg Corps' HeadqoiWltfS at Salisbury Plato.
W'oRK is already well under way with the hangar.s for the

School of the Royal Flying Corps at Upavon on Salisbury Plain,
and in the expierienced hands of Messrs. Harbrow and Son, of
South Berniondsey, who make :i spcciaUty of such work, they
should be quite ready within the stipulated time, although ii is so
very short. The contractors have only ten weeks in which to erect
the hangars, lecture rooms, officers' quarters, and men's liarracks,
4«t some of the buildings, which will be of a semi-permanent
•character, will be finished off early, so as to provide some accom-
— *''^*»«Mowti aiBh> gwcdtbeBagc pmiBBn«»l .

April 13, 1912.

Wbo saM no Baif«sMi W^'i

I N last week's issue of FLIGHT the sale by auction on April 24th
was announced of the entiie stock of aeroplanes, engines and
accessories of the Aerimautical Syndicate, Ltd. This little puUic
function will now be " off," as with remarkable enterprise Messrs.
Handley Page, Ltd., of 7a, Victoria Stie«t> S.W., at once entered
into n^otiatitms to purchase, and as a les^ have acquired the
oi^iie atQCkt lOf^ barrel, except the tools. Anybody,

i hi tdbife, dttfcBBS of dbtainfa^ any of the mdividual items adver-
tised under the auction notice can now enter into a probable deal
with Messrs. Handley Page, Ltd., who are ]>repared to sell all or any
of the goods acquired by themselves. In this little deal, besides all
the accessories are indndcd the new Viking machine, three Valky^
a»t two 50-h.pi. Gnome engines, one 6o-h.p. Green ei^rjne, and one
'^eNIo Green engine.

Aeronautical Consulting Engtoeers.

One of the earliest firms in thif Opontry to take up consulting
work in connection with aeronautiOt Wl Messrs. Markham and
Prance, of Dudley House, Southampton Street, Strand. Three and
a-half years ago we referred to the fact that they were open to
obuin Wright or Voisin machines ; and although times have changed
since then, the firm keep themselves thoronehly up to date, and, as
they do not hold vsf tfjeBCj fox any particnui m a chine ^ they claim
to be able tb tmbiassed advio^ and fo fumisb wy ^pe «ir nMke
desired.

Proposals lor New Clubs.

The following gentlemen are anxious to communicate with
others in their district with a view to clubbing together for the
purpose of studying aeion.autics, building small models &c. : —

Mr. C. A. Hiirkitt, 2j, Soulliill Park Gardens, Hampstead, K.W.

.Mr. Harold Moone, 3, Vicarage Walk, East Grinstead» SliBSex.55

Mr. B. S. Hirst, 32, Chelmsford Street, Oldham.

Mr. Arthnr C Woodnuui, Portland Pri«ile BeM, Malvsm.

® ® ® ®
Aeronautical Patents Published.

AwUe«l Mr la am*.

PtMiiJUd A^rilxUh, igxa.
3^j^ I. H. Stobbv. Ftying-iaacbiaw.

AvpUeS tmr la ISU.

PuiKshtd April \rth, 1913.

10,638. R. F.. ScoT-r. Pisch.irpring priiectiles from acria] mikcliiilies.

13,962. KUAUCK AND .1 . C liKl.L. Air^iiip-s.

'3i39>- A.. MABib. Siluck-absiirliing suit lur aviators.

36,940. C. Makston AND W. J. DiuKNT. AeropUiMS aod glidets.

27,161. R. J. Isaacson. Mounting of propellers.

a7i8oQ. B. LoUTZKOV. Propulsion of fiying-machines.

fAGB

330

33»
33*
334

PRINCIPAL CONTENTS.
— ♦

Editorial Comment ,

Fools and .\ngels.

Hendon .-\viation Meetings , m* m*

Head ResUtance and Wing Stresses ... m. -in

Automatic Subility. By T. W. K. Ctnte ^

Air Eddies. By " OiseaB Blan " ». ... .«

From the British Flying Gtouads

Aeronautical Society of Great BtitaiD

Foreign Aviation News ,.

Airship News ...

Models. Conducted by V. E. Johnson, H.A. <•> m -
PiUKie sa of Flight about the CoUBtiy w •« ~< ~
Coi 1 espondcnce .•■ ... ... ... 4..^ ... m

Gyroscopes on Aero{danes ... ». .„ ... ... /Q"

Pmgtew at Swaa School

FLIGHT.

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338